Everyone can collect art. You don’t need to be an authority on art. You don’t need to have lot of money. All you need is passion – passion for art and passion for collecting.

Granted, art collecting requires more effort, forethought and dedication than merely buying a painting or a sculpture to go with your interior décor. But it’s not as difficult as it sounds! Read on to find out how to start collecting art.

Expand your awareness

Browse art websites. Leaf through art books. Visit museums and art galleries. While you do it, make it a habit to consciously expose yourself to different styles and forms of art. Look longer and harder at the styles you think you do not like or understand. You may come out of that experience with your dislike strengthened; you may learn to appreciate a style without warming up to it, or you may even start liking artworks you previously considered weird. What is important is to keep an open mind.

Find your focus

Focus is what differentiates art collecting from merely buying art. After you expanded your awareness, it is time to settle on what exactly you want to collect. Depending on your inclinations and your budget, you may decide to collect photographs, limited edition prints, sculptures, paintings in a specific style, and so on. Think deep and long before you make this important decision, because you want to grow a meaningful collection, as opposed to amassing random pieces.

Start buying now

Do not wait until you have a substantial amount of spare cash. Buy what you can afford, and buy it now. Artworks can be surprisingly affordable! For example, check out bidorbuy’s Art directly from the artist section. It is filled with works of both established and up-and-coming artists, and you can often acquire wonderful art at amazing prices. The golden rule is to buy what you like while ensuring that each new purchase is appropriate to the theme of your overall collection. In time, you will acquire deep knowledge of the art market, both online and offline, which will enable you to compare works and prices and get the best value for your money.

Organise your collection

A collector is a curator of her or his own museum. Just like artworks in a museum are organised by artists, regions, dates, styles, subject matter, and so on, so should be your collection. Every piece should be documented for the purposes of authentication, ownership and insurance. But that’s not all. Keeping detailed records also gives artworks a sort of pedigree and increases their value.

Care for your collection

Carefulhandling and storage are a must. Watching art pieces deteriorate is heart breaking. Ensure that this does not happen to you by protecting your collection from humidity, heat, light and pollutants.

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Building an art collection takes time, but it gives the collector enormous satisfaction. A whole new world opens up as you search for that special piece that fills a gap, constantly striving to strengthen your collection.

Enjoy the quest!