DO spend time looking at art — Frequent galleries, museums, art fairs, art walks and open studio events in order to develop your tastes before you buy. The more you see, the more your preferences will become clear.

DO research the artists you like — What is their level of commitment to being an artist? Has their style developed over time or are they jumping from one technique to the next? Serious artists are focused and it will show when looking at their body of work.

DO purchase original art — Support artists and buy what you love. This is a win-win situation.

DO keep good records — With each purchase, keep all paperwork together and organized; write a personal statement about the works you buy and your thinking around each purchase. Your collection is a representation of yourself and the time, space and place in which you live, so spend the time to document it accordingly.

DON’T accumulate — Collect rather than accumulate. Make sure there is a consciousness and focus around what you collect. No one has the space or funds to buy everything they like, so choose carefully.

DON’T buy for financial investment — Collecting art is an investment in living. Don’t engage in conversation with dealers around the financial benefits of investing in art.  Purchase only what you can afford.  To stretch and make payments on art purchases is fine, but never leave your financial comfort range when purchasing.  Collecting is meant to be a pleasurable act.

DON’T overthink it — Remember that other people’s opinions are just that, opinions. You are the collector; buy what you love and what reflects your point of view.

Pierrette B. Van Cleve is the president of Art Cellar Exchange (artcellarexchange.com ), a service for buying and selling fine art, and Van Cleve Fine Art (vcfineart.com ), a curatorial and artist advisory service. Located in Little Italy since 1988 at 2171 India Street, her office is available for consultations, current market pricing and collection management by appointment. Call 619-338-0797.