How Do I Start Collecting Original Art?

Starting an original art collection doesn't have to be complicated, and you don't need to be an expert to begin. The best place to start is with your own eye. Pay attention to the artists, subjects, styles, and individual works that genuinely capture your attention. A meaningful collection is built around a personal connection to the artwork—not simply around what happens to be popular at the moment.

Once you begin discovering artists whose work resonates with you, spend some time learning about them. Look at their body of work, artistic process, career, exhibitions, and the direction their work is developing. Understanding the artist behind a piece can add an entirely different dimension to the experience of owning it.

For new collectors, purchasing directly from an artist can also be an excellent place to begin. You have the opportunity to acquire original work at an earlier stage of an artist's career while establishing a direct relationship with the person who created it. As an artist's career develops, the works created during those earlier periods can become an important part of their history and body of work.

Most importantly, collect with patience. You don't need to fill your walls immediately. One exceptional original that you genuinely love can be the beginning of a lifelong collection. Over time, you may find yourself developing a personal understanding of art, discovering new artists, and building a collection that reflects your own taste, experiences, and story.

If you're ready to begin collecting original artwork, I invite you to explore my available works. Each original is created individually in my studio in Huntington Beach, California, and is offered directly to collectors looking to acquire meaningful, one-of-a-kind artwork.

New to collecting original art?

Sign up for my mailing list and I’ll send you the download to my free First-Time Art Collector's Checklist to learn what to look for before purchasing your first original artwork.