Becoming the Observer

Hello Dear Readers,

I wanted to let you know about something I have recently become more aware of in my art-making practice; I have developed the skill of being both creator and observer while I work. This is a shift for me—from simply making art to witnessing my own process—and it feels like an important progression for me, one that has opened up a deeper relationship with my well of creativity. This skill has kind of crept up on me, slowly revealing itself bit by bit, bubbling away in the background. The more I opened to observing, I noticed feeling a sense of freedom when creating. 

Perhaps all developing artists do this, but I have in the past, entered the creative process with a strong idea of what I wanted to make, sometimes clinging to an initial vision and striving for a very specific outcome. And back in the day, when I first begin making art, my focus was often drawn to technical aspects: the materials, the colours, the composition, etc. But over time, and as I matured as an artist, something changed in me and how I navigate art making and I think observation has been one of the keys.

In my current practice, I have noticed that once I begin, my original idea often falls away or morphs into something different, better. I have become less concerned with controlling the outcome and more attuned to what is emerging on the page in front of me. You could say that I start to respond rather than dictate. It is in these moments that I feel my curiosity increasing, and I find myself stepping into the role of the observer, more witnessing the creative process unfold rather than forcing it in any predetermined direction. 

This way feels more like a conversation—a reciprocity between what is happening and how I respond to it, a positive exchange if you will. So rather than imposing my will on the page, I let the marks, shapes, and colours guide me. It’s sort of like a dance of creation and reaction, where meaning is discovered rather than imposed by my force of will. Releasing to this discovery is similar to something I’ve mentioned before—Flow. You can read a little blog I wrote about Flow here.

This ‘way’, or capacity to observe while creating is something that has developed in me over time. I realise now that it is quite an advanced skill—one that requires a deep level of trust in the process. It asks me to relinquish control and instead witness what is being revealed, moment by moment. Not only is there observation, but simultaneously, meaning is unfolding in real-time. This can be a lot to hold, yet it is in this space that some of my most profound insights take shape.

In my personal practice and here at the Creative C, I try to articulate that art is more than just an act of making—it is an act of listening too. It is a conversation between ourselves and the materials, between our conscious mind and the deeper, less tangible parts of who we are. We try to imbue this principle in our workshops, like Art and Soul Sessions, our Mandala Meditations, or the many other workshops we offer, we are always engaging with the idea that art-making is a process of discovery, not just production. We are manifesting something into existence that had not previously existed for us before, and that is always revelatory.

So I encourage you, the next time you sit down to create, take a moment to observe yourself. Notice your movements, your decisions, your reactions. When do you hold onto an idea, and do you allow the art to lead you somewhere unexpected? How does it feel to let go of control and witness what unfolds? Take your time, go gently, and I’m sure you will discover something new.

For me, this is the essence of creative presence—a skill that is not just about making art but about being in deeper relationship with yourself and your process.

Happy making,
Tania