ArtStar The quick and dirty on collecting for the uninitiated

Building a quality art collection's a difficult task, requiring extensive research, decisive action, and banging Rene Russo so good she stops caring it's all stolen. To do it on the level without getting loose skin in your face, check out ArtStar.

Helping novice collectors discover & purchase contemporary work without breaking the bank, Star employs a legion of experts (scholars, gallery operators, etc.) to secure reasonably priced, ltd-ed prints from both firmly established artists and "fresh discoveries", who up until now were just "poor". Hand-selected for "special" qualities, each artist is tapped to put together a run of authenticated, numbered prints of original work, which're offered as is, or framed in everything from maple to brushed aluminum, which is really tired of everyone trying to copper feel. Easily sortable by artist or medium, current offerings run from absurdist photos of Kim Jong-Il on lollipops (from a legendary American ad guru), to an award-winning illustrator's minimalist take on dull suburban landmarks (gas stations, parking lots...), to an ultra-colorful, South Pacific-repping painting called "Cargo Cult", also a clandestine sect who knows the true Beast is really American Eagle.

They also offer a few hard copy originals, and you can brush up on how their taste-makers assemble collections via virtual exhibitions, though when it comes to exhibitions, if Rene's involved, you should probably be Leary.