Starting an art collection is one the most personal aspects of an interior design project. An art collection reveals information about the collector: what interests them, what makes them tick, and sometimes even political affiliations or social concerns that matter to them.

While some consider art to be just the finishing touch, other homeowners and collectors design and build projects around a single work of art. Some homeowners are less interested in the nature of what goes up on the walls and see art as a decorative nuance. Others view art as an investment and are genuinely concerned with buying art that will appreciate and not just function as "expensive wallpaper."

Which approach to collecting is best? Perhaps the answer is a combination of all of the above.

Deciding what to buy can be disconcerting and frustrating. Most homeowners do not want to make a mistake, especially a financial one. So where does one begin?

First, let's discard the notion that any work of art has to match your sofa. Art is the combination of the visual and technical expression of one person's thoughts. Liking or, better yet, loving the visual imagery is a great and necessary point of departure. Art, unlike other investments, is not meant to be bought and sold quickly for a profit, but rather is meant to provide enjoyment over a long period of time. So whatever you buy should bring out some emotion in you that you can appreciate or that makes you feel good.

That which drives every collection and collector is different. Some collectors acquire art by artists from their home town; others collect Midcentury works on paper; some have an affinity for European landscapes from the early 19th century; some more daring collectors buy the works of unknown artists right out of art school. Recognizing what is appealing to you could require repeated visits to art fairs, galleries and museums — and patience. No collection should be born out of a race to fill wall space, but rather out of a self-satisfying process of finding the right works.

Education is truly an asset when buying a work of art or amassing an art collection. Once you determine what grabs your interest, do some research on your artist. This can be accomplished via regular visits to galleries and museums and by developing relationships with galleries or cultural institutions and their curators. Financial and board commitments to venues where artists frequently exhibit can lead to additional information and contact with up-and-coming as well as established artists.

Finally, some decorative advice. The works you collect or decide to fill your home with needn't necessarily match the decor or each other. If you love the color red, it would follow that some of your collection would be based on that color. Your collection could be comprised of a variety of works that are diverse. They could complement each other and foster a dialogue as a whole. The most important thing is that you love them. In the end, in your collection and in your preferences of style and tone and color, you will shine through.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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