Starting an art collection can seem intimidating. But you don’t need to be rich, educated in art history, or bidding at Sotheby’s to buy original art. Collecting art is for anyone who wants to surround themselves with one-of-a-kind creativity that beautifies their home and everyday life. If you’ve been waiting for permission to start buying original art, consider this your sign. To make it easy, we’ve created this comprehensive guide that breaks down how to collect art and provides you with a clear starting point.Why Collect Original Art?Before diving into the how, let’s understand the why. Original art—drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography—is unique. You’re not buying one of thousands, you’re buying the only one. Over time, original pieces become companions that take you back to memories, reveal new details, and grow more meaningful as your life changes around them.Another way to look at it is that you might spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of furniture that wears out in five years, while an original artwork at that same price point can bring joy for a lifetime.Your First Steps: How to Start Collecting ArtStep 1: Set a realistic budgetDecide what you can comfortably spend. Maybe it’s $300 or $3,000, there’s no wrong answer. Setting a budget removes the anxiety of visiting a gallery or art fair and worrying about falling in love with something you can’t afford. A budget also helps art advisors guide you toward appropriate options if you choose to enlist help.Remember, good galleries work with collectors at all levels.Step 2: Define your taste You don’t need to know art history or terminology to love an artwork. Instead, pay attention to what you’re drawn to naturally. Are you pulled to bold colors or muted tones? Abstract compositions or portraits? Expressive work or clean, minimal pieces?Try taking photos of art you see online, in friends’ homes, or in museums. These breadcrumbs can serve as clues to help you identify patterns in your preferences.Step 3: Visit galleries and art fairsYou don’t have to buy anything on your first visit to a gallery. Or your second. Or your tenth. Galleries exist for browsing, looking, and learning. Think of each drop in as research and education. If you’re apprehensive about visiting a gallery in person, there are many online art galleries, like Saatchi Art, where you can see a wide breadth of gallery-worthy artists from the comfort of your home.Step 4: Start small Your first piece doesn’t need to be a major statement work. Small drawings or works on paper are excellent entry points. They’re more affordable, easier to display, especially if you’re renting or moving frequently, and they help you learn what living with original art feels like. As you build confidence and refine your taste, you can add larger pieces or different mediums.Breaking Down a Big Misconception: PriceTalking to so many first-time art buyers, we’ve found that there’s an assumption that original art starts at thousands of dollars and climbs from there. This misconception keeps people from even walking into galleries. However, original art exists at every price point, especially when you focus on emerging and early-career artists.Looking through Saatchi Art, original drawings and watercolors from talented emerging artists can start at $150. Small-scale oil paintings can be found for under $500. The key is understanding that “original” doesn’t automatically mean “unaffordable.” Original simply means one-of-a-kind, and artists at all career stages create one-of-a-kind work.Understanding What You’re Paying ForArtwork pricing can feel opaque, but it’s not arbitrary. Several factors influence the price of an original artwork.Artist’s career stage: Emerging artists with limited exhibition history typically price work lower than mid-career or established artists with museum shows, publications, and strong collector bases. When you buy from emerging artists, you’re getting in early, financially and in terms of supporting their practice.Scale: Larger works command higher prices than smaller ones. A 4×6-inch drawing might be $250, while a 36×48-inch painting from the same artist could be $4,000.Materials and technique: Pricing often reflects the labor and approaches involved. Works that require specialized skills, expensive materials, or extensive time investment reflect these factors in their pricing.Oil paintings generally cost more than watercolors or drawings due to the higher material costs and greater time investment required to create the artwork. A detailed hyperrealist portrait might take weeks to complete, while a life drawing may take a couple of hours.Edition and availability: Unlike prints, you’re not buying something that can be reproduced. Scarcity has value, especially as an artist’s reputation grows.At Saatchi Art, we value transparency in pricing. If you’re curious why one piece costs more than another that looks similar, you can speak with an art advisor who will walk you through the reasoning.Make Confident Decisions with Expert SupportOne of the best things you can do as someone buying art for the first time is to develop relationships with curators and art advisors. When an art advisor understands your taste, budget, and space, they can direct you to artwork that aligns with them.Saatchi Art offers complimentary access to expert art advisors who specialize in guiding first-time buyers. They will help you navigate the entire process, from selection to purchase and display.Saatchi Art’s advisory services can help you with:Finding work that matches your style and budgetUnderstanding an artist’s background, career, and processProper care, framing, and display guidance for specific mediumsCurating a cohesive collection over time as your taste evolvesTips All First-Time Buyers Need to HearTrust your gut: An emotional response to art is valid, and often more important than investment potential or following what’s currently trending in the art world.Consider your space: Measure your walls before falling in love with a piece. If sizing is uncertain, ask galleries about return policies. Take photos of your space to show an art advisor if needed.Don’t rush: It’s fine to see an artwork, think about it for days or weeks, and come back to it later. Considered purchases always beat impulse buys in the long run, especially as you’re building collecting habits.Ask about care: Each medium requires different care. Works on paper need protection from direct sunlight and humidity. Oil paintings are generally durable but shouldn’t hang near heat sources. Always ask an art advisor if you’re unsure.Document everything: Keep receipts, certificates of authenticity, and artist statements. You’ll want them for insurance, potential resale, or remembering the story behind each piece.Collecting Art is Easier Than You ThinkThe art world has a reputation for exclusivity, but Saatchi Art welcomes new art buyers. We believe original art is for anyone willing to look closely, trust their instincts, and invest in beauty that lasts. Start small, learn as you go, and buy what you love. That’s how every serious collector began, and that’s how you’ll build a collection that’s authentically yours.The post How to Collect Art appeared first on Canvas: A Blog By Saatchi Art.