Art - beginner needs help

Slowly, over the past two years, I’ve become more and more interested in art. The works I’ve experienced have been few, but I think they’re of pretty good quality. I’ve repeatedly visited the major art museums in the San Francisco Bay area and I spent a few frantic hours trying to take in all I could during a visit to the Smithsonian. I’ve not taken any formal art appreciation classes, so I’ve sort of walked into this world like a babe in the woods. I’ve found that I don’t really care too much for classic style painting. Modern art styles and stuff that challenges my reality is what I find the most interesting.

What I’m wondering is, are there any rules or guidelines about appreciating art that I might be overlooking? I don’t know how else I can word that question, so I hope it suffices.

From an investment standpoint, I have absolutely nothing to offer. But from an aesthetic point of view, I can only say this:

Follow your heart. And spirit. That you have already mentioned that you prefer the Modern Art styles because it “challenges (your) reality” should give you an idea of what touches you. For some, Art soothes. For others, it provokes. A deKooning or Pollock inspires some, a black velvet Elvis comforts others. All that I find is important is what works for you…an intrinsic appreciation that usually cannot and should not be taught.

IMHO