Pay up the butt for it if you can get your hands on it. This depends on if you want to pass it down to little Zachary, your greedy little bastard grandson, in which case you can also have it buried with you. Find out about simple aspects of artist's materials. There are tons of reference books on it. If you're buying paintings, find out about the differences in the grades of oil and acrylic color.
Good art makes impact.
Quality will shine through if you know what to look for. Then you can be like me, battling with voices in your head. Be skilled at the things in which you are involved. Be smart, get interested and then you won't get ripped off. We don't give rides to dilettantes.