by Sarah Huth

Created on: June 24, 2008

Some people may have a great appreciation for art, but lack the ability to paint or draw themselves. Still wanting to participate in the world of art, they choose to collect and admire instead of creating on their own. Now, it may seem as though art collecting is reserved only for wealthy snobs that drink expensive wine and live in huge mansions, or those with only the best taste that seem to know almost everything about any given artistic period or movement. This couldn't be further from the truth. Art collecting is possible for nearly everyone and can be a great investment, or even a legacy to pass down to your children. You don't need to have a degree in art, though some people may choose to attend classes in order to expand their knowledge in particular areas. Collecting art on a budget is easy, but as a beginner, there are a few things that should be considered first. While classes or an art degree is not necessary, researching art and educating yourself to some extent is highly advisable; this can even be achieved by reading a few art books at home. It is also important to look at a lot of art. Now, this may seem pretty obvious, but knowing more about what is out there will be a great asset to you as you collect. Buying what you like is also very important; remember you're the one who is going to have to live with this collection, not the rest of the world. Use the internet to assist you in finding particular pieces or just to explore online galleries. Finally, being aware of how to tell whether your painting is authentic or a knock-off is one of an art collector's greatest skills, and is something that you will definitely need to know.

There are many great resources that can help in your quest to better educate yourself about the world of art collecting, and the internet is one of them. On her website (http://www.markelfin earts.com/Artlady Monica), "The Art Lady" gives a lot of valuable advice on beginning your collection. The website provides several informative articles, as well as suggesting various websites on which you can view art. The website "About Art History" (http://arthistory.about.com/?once=true&PM=60_821_T) discusses things such as artist biographies, arts and culture news, and tips for picking up artist lingo and terms such as "gesture drawing" or "armature". Art-collecting.com offers tips on things to remember when getting ready to start an art collection in their article, "How to Collect Art" (http://art-collecting.com/article1.htm).

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