The Art of Deep Observation
Most of us spend our lives looking at things without ever truly seeing them. We navigate through our busy Indian cities, dodging traffic and checking our phones, treating our vision as a functional tool rather than a source of inspiration. However, learning how to see like a professional artist or a keen observer can fundamentally change your relationship with your environment. It is about moving beyond the labels we give to objects and starting to perceive the underlying beauty, geometry, and light that define our reality.
In the context of our vibrant surroundings, from the bustling markets of Delhi to the serene backwaters of Kerala, there is an infinite amount of visual data waiting to be processed. Most people see a rickshaw and simply think of it as a mode of transport. An artist, however, sees a vibrant yellow and green contrast against a dusty grey road, the reflection of the sun on a metallic surface, and the complex interlocking circles of the wheels. This shift in perspective is what we call the transition from looking to seeing.
Why Most People Fail to See
Our brains are designed for efficiency, not for aesthetic appreciation. From a young age, we are taught to categorize objects. Once we identify an object, such as a tree or a chair, our brain stops looking at the actual physical details and instead relies on a mental shorthand or a symbol. This is why many people struggle with drawing or photography; they try to draw what they think an object looks like rather than what they actually see. To understand how to see like a master, you must first learn to bypass this mental labeling system.
Breaking the World into Basic Shapes
One of the first steps in learning how to see like a professional creator is deconstructing the world into its fundamental components. Everything around us, no matter how complex, is composed of basic geometric shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and cylinders. When you look at a majestic Gulmohar tree, stop seeing it as a tree. Instead, see the organic clusters of red ovals, the dark vertical cylinders of the trunk, and the intricate network of lines that form the branches.
Seeing Geometry in the Indian Landscape
In India, our architecture provides a perfect training ground for this. Think of the Taj Mahal or a local temple in South India. Instead of being overwhelmed by the scale, look for the symmetry. See the semi-circles of the arches, the rectangles of the doorways, and the repeating patterns of the carvings. By reducing the world to these simple forms, you remove the pressure of the label and allow your eyes to focus on the actual spatial relationships between objects.
Mastering the Language of Light and Shadow
Light is the medium through which we perceive everything, yet we rarely pay attention to its quality. To see like a photographer or a painter, you must become obsessed with light. In India, the light changes dramatically throughout the day. The harsh, overhead sun of a summer noon flattens shapes and creates deep, unforgiving shadows. Contrast this with the golden hour, that magical time just before sunset, where the long shadows add depth and the warm hues transform even the most mundane street into a cinematic scene.
The Power of Chiaroscuro in Everyday Life
Chiaroscuro is an Italian term used in art to describe the strong contrast between light and dark. You can find this everywhere if you look for it. Imagine the way sunlight filters through a thatched roof in a village, or how a single streetlamp illuminates a narrow alleyway in an old city. When you focus on the shadows, you begin to see that they have their own shapes and colors. Shadows are rarely just black; in the Indian heat, they often contain deep blues, purples, or cool greys that provide a necessary balance to the warmth of the sun-drenched areas.
Understanding Negative Space
Most people focus solely on the positive space—the actual objects in front of them. However, if you want to know how to see like a professional designer, you must learn to appreciate negative space. Negative space is the area around and between the subjects of an image. For instance, when looking at a cow standing in the middle of a busy road, the negative space is the shape of the asphalt visible between its legs or the gap between the animal and the passing cars.
By focusing on the shapes of the gaps rather than the objects themselves, you gain a more accurate understanding of proportions. This is particularly useful in crowded Indian environments. In a packed bazaar, instead of seeing a wall of people, try to see the shapes of the sky visible between the buildings or the patterns formed by the empty spaces on a shopkeeper's shelf. This technique helps in creating a sense of balance and breathing room in your visual compositions.
The Vibrancy of Color and Temperature
India is a land of color, but we often take it for granted. To see like a colorist, you need to understand that color is relative. A red sari looks different under the fluorescent lights of a shopping mall than it does in the natural light of a park. Start noticing the temperature of colors. Is the green of the monsoon grass a cool, bluish-green, or is it a warm, yellowish-green? Understanding these nuances allows you to see the harmony or the discord in your environment.
Color Relationships in Local Contexts
Observe the way colors interact. Notice how the bright orange of a marigold garland pops against the blue walls often found in cities like Jodhpur. This is known as complementary color theory. When you learn how to see like a visual expert, you begin to notice these natural pairings everywhere—from the spices arranged in a market to the vibrant posters on a city wall. You start to see that the world is not just a collection of objects, but a shifting palette of hues that evoke different emotions.
Practical Exercises to Train Your Eyes
Perspective is a muscle that needs to be exercised. Here are a few ways you can practice these skills in your daily life in India.
- The Viewfinder Technique: Use your fingers to create a small rectangular frame and look through it. This helps you isolate a small portion of your environment and focus on its composition without being distracted by the surrounding noise.
- Blind Contour Drawing: Take a pen and paper, look at an object (like a chai glass or your own hand), and draw its outline without looking down at the paper. This forces your eyes to truly track the edges of the object rather than letting your brain fill in the blanks.
- Color Spotting: Choose a specific color, like turquoise or mustard yellow, and try to find ten instances of it during your commute. This heightens your visual awareness and trains you to look for details you would normally ignore.
- Upside-Down Observation: If you are looking at a photograph or a sketch, turn it upside down. This breaks the brain's ability to recognize the label and forces you to see the shapes, lines, and colors for what they actually are.
Conclusion: A New Way of Living
Learning how to see like a visionary is not just about art; it is about mindfulness. It is about being present in the moment and appreciating the intricate details of the world around us. When we stop rushing and start observing, we find that even the most chaotic or mundane parts of our lives hold a certain beauty. Whether it is the pattern of raindrops on a window during the Mumbai rains or the way the morning light hits a brass vessel in a kitchen, there is art everywhere. By training your eyes, you unlock a richer, more vibrant version of reality that has been there all along, just waiting to be noticed.
Can anyone learn how to see like an artist?
Yes, observing like an artist is a skill that can be developed with practice. It involves unlearning the habit of labeling objects and focusing instead on shapes, light, and colors. Consistency in practicing visual exercises is key.
Does this perspective help with mobile photography?
Absolutely. Understanding light, negative space, and composition is the foundation of great photography. By training your eyes to see these elements, your photos will naturally become more balanced and visually compelling.
Why is it harder for adults to see things clearly?
As we grow older, our brains become more efficient at categorizing information. We stop looking at the details of a tree because our brain tells us we already know what a tree looks like. Seeing like an artist requires regaining that childhood sense of wonder and curiosity.
How can I practice this in a crowded city?
Crowded cities are excellent places to practice. Focus on the negative space between buildings, the repeating patterns of windows, or the way different colored signs interact with each other. Use the chaos as a canvas for finding hidden geometries.
