1 It's easy! Now, for the first time ever in the history of the human race you can browse and buy new art at any time of the day or night, any day of the week any week of the year! You can browse from the comfort of your own home (or office, if the boss isn't looking). Once you've decided you like something then bidding is easy. Once you've won your bid, then payment and receipt of the goods is (usually) simple and easy - and it's delivered to your door.

2 Your choice is basically PRIVATE - You can choose what you like without having to worry about what anyone else thinks.

3 You can choose without the intimidation of going into a high street gallery. Nobody is going to make you feel inferior or stupid - quite the opposite, as everyone selling their art on Ebay is SO happy that you're bidding for their work!

4 There's so much of it and so much variety. Every day you have thousands of different artworks to choose from, in dozens of styles and different materials. Whether you want a straightforward old-style portrait or a modern abstract painting, or even a piece of bizarre (possibly controversial) conceptualism (such as Old Rope or Dyson Dust by Yours Truly) then you'll find it on Ebay.

5 The chances are you'll be dealing directly with the artist. That means neither of you will be paying extra to a gallery or agent, etc. And you get the buzz of dealing personally with the person who produced the work.

6 It's an investment! You never know - you might be buying into an artist whose career takes off in a big way. In which case the item you snapped up on Ebay could one day be worth thousands. Every famous artist has to start somewhere, as an unknown. Think about it.

7 It's re-sellable - if after a while you decide you don't like a piece, or you have to move and can't take it with you - or maybe you have to liquidate some of your property - then you can easily put it back up on Ebay! Keep hold of that Certificate of Authenticity - it should add to the final value.

8 You're paying well below Gallery List Prices! Whatever you pay, you're ALWAYS getting a bargain for art on Ebay.

9 Buying art helps the artist, whether they're doing it just for the love of it or as a living. It's a great way for artists and artlovers to make contact and do business, because it's direct and personal.

10 It's fun. Let's remember that!

© Michael Blackburn 2003. You copy and distribute this article free of charge on condition that you acknowledge Michael Blackburn with a link to Art Zero.