Nobody is born knowing how to collect art. Every serious collector started the same way: they saw something, it made them feel something, and they bought it. That’s the whole system. Everything else is embellishment.

Here’s what I know about collecting, from years of watching people fall in love with paintings:

Start with what stops you

The best piece to buy first is the one you keep coming back to. Not the one you think you should like. Not the one that’s technically impressive or critically praised. The one that makes you slow down when you walk past it. That response is data. Trust it.

Understand what you’re buying

Original paintings exist once. Limited edition prints exist in a fixed numbered run. Open edition prints have no cap. All three have their place — but the original is in a different category. It ages differently, rewards looking more closely, and holds its value in ways reproductions don’t.

Build a relationship with an artist

The most rewarding collections are built around artists, not individual pieces. When you understand what an artist cares about — what they paint, how they paint it, what they’re working towards — you start to see each new work as part of a longer conversation. And when an artist you’ve followed for years creates something that feels like a breakthrough, you’ll know it. That’s when to buy.

Don’t wait for the ‘right’ wall

There is no right wall. There’s only the painting you love and the space you live in right now. Art changes a room more than any piece of furniture. Buy the painting. The wall will adapt.

The most common regret I hear from collectors: ‘I wish I’d bought it when I first saw it.’ The piece you’re hesitating on right now might be that piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to know about art to start collecting?

A: No. The only requirement is a response — something that makes you feel something when you look at it. The rest can be learned over time.

Q: What should I look for in an emerging artist?

A: Consistency of vision, quality of craft, and the sense that the artist is developing a body of work rather than making individual pieces. Artists who paint from a genuine place of passion and specificity tend to create work that holds its value.