Can you imagine a world without art? Without art we might end up with blank walls of solid colors or we might try to fill the empty spaces with plants, flowers or TV monitors. Close your eyes and try to imagine your home without art.

Your surroundings not only affect what you see but also the way you feel. Art can be therapeutic. It can enhance your awareness of your settings, by taking you away from your present frame of mind. It also helps to alleviate or relieve stress. Gazing at art can have a calming affect through color, texture form, design or subject matter. Art can enrich your personal space just by the pride you develop because you own specific works or art. Art can make you feel content because it has sentimental value to you. Art can help make a space inviting and create a place where you want other people to come. Art can exemplify part of your personality. Art can be used to increase your cultural awareness. Your environment can reflect cultural subject matter such as African masks, landscapes and intimate portrayals such as mother and child. You may wish your environment to be of an historical nature where the art on your walls depicts historical events or historical figures. It can also be used to diversify your art arena. You may collect contemporary art that you feel reflects life today. Some of my personal favorites are brightly colored abstract painting and small detailed sculptures of different media.

As parents, grandparents, concerned friends and relatives, it is important to get our children involved in collecting art. They can enjoy being in an environment that gives them joy by identifying with an array of subject matter. They can enjoy art of historical figures whom they respect and who can drive them to achieve their goals. Historical art can give them greater strength and allow young people to know their roots.

As you become more excited and enthusiastic about the art in your collection, you will want it to continue to grow. You should be inspired to learn more about the meaning of art in your collection and understand more about what motivated the artists. You will also gain insight into how art is created. Remember that greater awareness will improve your understanding of art and bring a greater personal satisfaction to your collection.

While there are many guidelines for purchasing art, the first and foremost is collect art that YOU like. Let art enrich your environment and that of your family and friends. Give the gift of art and watch the collection grow. Pass the art-enriched environment on to future generations to enjoy.

Whether your art gift is for yourself of others, your gift can inspire a change of feeling in the environment of the person who receives it.

Ana M. Allen is the author of the book. "The Beginners Guide to Collecting Fine Art: African-American Style." For letters and comments, contact her at P.O.Box 91581, Washington, DC 20090 or call at (202)882-4079.