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In addition to world travel and animal rescue, one of favorite things in life is art collecting. Contrary to what some believe, art collecting is not merely an esoteric hobby of wealthy heirs hunting for a lost Cezanne. For , collecting art can be a way to broaden his horizons and discover new treasures of human creation. Collectable art exists across a broad spectrum of culture and society.

reminds readers that the definition of art differs significantly from one person to another. For this very reason, says , each collector is called upon to apply their own aesthetic criteria to art they discover and consider purchasing. By using his own interest and considerable knowledge, assesses the quality of art and how much each piece is worth to him.

says that one’s own heart is the best compass for finding good art. Unlike some art critics and collectors, is more interested in the enriching power of art rather than its investment prospects. For example, says , many art collectors would never deign to buy a reproduction of an original piece of art. They only want the originals. In fact, some art collectors are so interested in procuring original art they will buy art they do not even enjoy, just so long as it is one of a kind.

On the other hand, one of ‘s favorite pieces is a faithful reproduction of Chagall’s “La Mariee.” sees no sense in spending a prohibitive amount of money trying to hunt down the original and persuading the current owner to sell. (“La Mariee” currently resides in a private collection in Japan.) The framed print brings a smile to ‘s face every time he sees it, and that is what counts. ‘s art collecting philosophy is based on personal aesthetic fulfillment, not frivolous competition among a tiny population of buyers and sellers.