Starting a collection is simple, really. Buy something. (Better yet, have someone buy it for you.) Collecting "happens" as you add to what you've got. And that can be quite an odyssey. Despite growing popularity worldwide and dramatic rises in prices in the last two decades, many British watercolors and drawings remain within the means of would-be collectors.

The question is where to begin looking. A dealer is the safest place for the beginning collector of anything. Most dealers offer the safety net of a guarantee of authenticity and condition. Most dealers are enthusiastic about what they sell and have an evangelical urge to share what they know about their subject.

Auctions are another source. However, if you are inexperienced or lack limitless self-confidence, buying at auction -- like skydiving -- may not be for you, yet. At auctions, items are sold in "as is" condition, and there is no telling what problems you may find inside the frame of your new purchase. Attributions of authorship of works of art are clearly stated as "opinion" by the auction house -- whose catalogers may or may not know more than you do. And in a field where artists had hosts of pupils and imitators, authenticity can be tricky.

There's nothing quite like the burst of enthusiasm that comes with ownership. A single work of art can give you a perspective from which to tackle the entire field, starting with the artist, the subject, the period -- the ripples get bigger and bigger. That's exactly how most people I know, including myself, got started.

Then look and look, everywhere you go. We often hear that someone has a good "eye." This is an innate ability to distinguish something in a work of art that others might fail to notice. Like any other talent, an eye is developed through use, and practice makes better, no matter how great or small your natural ability.

Don't be afraid to question curators, artists, and other collectors. Then buy for love. And don't be afraid to make mistakes, we all do. As your understanding develops, you may fall out of love with a former favorite.

A few final words of advice: Don't buy solely by décor. Works of art tend to transcend this year's color scheme. And don't buy only for "investment"; it takes the fun out.