This is an excerpt from my first book, "Art In King Size Beds: A Collector's Journal."  Here I give some simple art collecting tips.  There are more tips in "The Art of Everyday Joe: A Collector's Journal," but this should get you started...

Tips For Collecting Art

One of the best gifts that anyone could buy is an original work of art from
a living artist. It enriches your life in ways you never expect.

My paintings are like old friends. They're always there. They're great,
they're expressive, they nourish me and they challenge me.

Whenever I visit someone's home, the first thing I notice is whether or not
they have original artwork displayed. Sadly, in most cases, they do not.
It's a shame. One artist once told me that people are more than willing to
spend a couple of hundred bucks on an IPOD or TIVO, but they won't spend
that amount on an original painting!

There are so many artists out there who are struggling for their art. We
need to support them. Yet, let's face it, many of us get intimidated when
it comes to art. How do you put a price on a painting anyway? Can you
negotiate a price if you're dealing with an artist directly? How can you
even ask without insulting the artist or making yourself look like an idiot?

Well, wonder no more. Now, I'm no expert, but I have been buying art online
long enough to pass on a few tips. Here we go!

1. BUY ONLY WHAT YOU LOVE. Would you buy a television or sofa or coat that you didn't like? So, duh! Don't buy a painting that you don't like! Of
course, you might be thinking that the artist whose work you're buying may
one day become famous like Picasso. If so, great! But the truth is, even
the most knowlegeable museum curators and art gallery owners don't know
who'll become famous. No one has a crystal ball. Besides, famous doesn't
mean good. Buy what you love and even if the artist doesn't become famous,
you STILL own something you love! Happiness is a good investment. (See tip
5)

2. SUPPORT LIVING ARTISTS. I think that it's best to buy works online from
artists who are alive and working. There are so many of them! Thousands
and thousands worldwide. They deserve to make a good living creating their
art. It's what they were born to do. I have forged online relationships
with artists. The relationships with the artists are just as great as
owning the artwork. Trust me on this one!

3. PURCHASE ONLINE ART THROUGH ESTABLISHED, TRUSTWORTHY WEBSITES.  Look for the "gold lock symbol" at the bottom on the righthand side of your computer screen when purchasing, or "HTTPS" in the address line of the website when buying. That lets you know it's secure.

4. DON'T BE AFRAID TO NEGOTIATE. This is a tricky one, but here's the
deal. We negotiate for so many things in this world. Why not artwork?
Artists live in the real world like the rest of us. They WANT to sell their
work. But, keep in mind that they work hard like the rest of us. They're
not going to give their work away. Nor should they! All they can do is say
no! If so, respect that and move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea!
I think the best approach is to just send the artist an email saying that
you love his/her work and ask if they sell anything in the $100 range, for
example. Some artists even let you PAY IN INSTALLMENTS. Try it! I've done
this. I have yet to be disappointed. However, keep in mind that we're
talking about artists who represent themselves. Gallery-represented artists
are a whole other ball of wax.

5. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS.  A painting isn't neccessarily good because it's
posted on some website or hangs in a gallery. Anyway, what's good art to
you may be bad art to someone else and vice-versa. Trust your instincts!
Most importantly, if other people judge your purchases, do not be forced
into defending your choices. If you like them, that's all that matters.
Politely show your critics the door! (Smile)

6. DON'T JUST BUY PRETTY PICTURES.  Who doesn't love beautiful art?
Still-lifes, landscapes, portraits of attractive people are all nice, but
art is about more than just, "pretty pictures." BE BOLD! CONQUER DOUBT!
Buy art that challenges and stretches you. Buy art that makes you think and
feel. When considering art, don't just think in terms of what you like or
dislike, think about whether the piece "moves you." This will help you make
more soulful choices. I have some paintings that aren't conventionally
beautiful, but I was moved to buy them. They spoke to me somehow. I believe
I'm a better collector for taking this approach.

6A. POSTERS.  This is a tough one. There are so many framing shops
out there that sell these. We should try to support them. However, keep in
mind that oftentimes, for the price of buying a poster and then
getting it framed, you can also buy an original drawing or painting from a
struggling artist in your own community! The choice is yours.

7. READ AND RESEARCH.  Read art magazines, visit museums and galleries.
This will help you determine what "moves you." It'll refine your eye. I
still have a long way to go, but I find that this helps.

8. TALK TO ARTISTS.  I always like to ask artists what inspires them to
create. Knowing what inspires an artist and relating to that inspiration
can often help you when it comes to purchasing a piece online. I have found
that talking with artists is never a waste of time.

9. DON'T SPEND MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD.  I cannot stress this enough. If buying artwork means that you're neglecting that badly needed brake job on
your car, I certainly hope that you'll put off buying that painting and get
your brakes fixed!

10. TRY AGAIN.  If you miss out on a painting for whatever reason, just try
again. If you fell in love with one painting and someone else got it, trust
me, you'll find another one that you can afford that you love just as much,
if not more!

Again, I'm still learning myself, but I hope some of this helps. Good Luck!