The Discipline of Seeing: Observation as an Artistic Practice
Why begin here?
Every course in this school builds upon the same foundation: observation.
Before studying drawing, painting, colour, composition, portraiture or art history, you must first develop the ability to observe accurately.
For that reason, Learn to See Like an Artist is the recommended starting point for every student.
Observation is not a talent. It is a discipline.
Once this discipline is established, every other aspect of artistic practice becomes clearer, more meaningful and more rewarding.
Who is This Course For?
This course is not designed for casual exploration.
It is for those willing to:
- slow down perception without resistance
- work without immediate visual reward
- tolerate repetition as a method of clarity
- prioritise observation over interpretation
It is not about artistic style or output.
It is about establishing reliable seeing as the basis for all further practice.
Without this level of attention, later stages of painting or analysis remain dependent on assumption rather than observation.
Six Modules of this Course:
- The Apple You Never Saw
- Drawing What You See
- Seeing a Face
- Seeing a Master
- Complex Observation
- Final Project: The Artist in the Mirror
- 12 Weeks of Observation Practice (Includes an Extra Practice Companion PDF)
The 1% Notebook: For Artists Committed to Lifelong Mastery (PDF)
ABOUT ME
I am a classically trained artist, musician, art historian, and cultural philosopher.
My work focuses on observational practice grounded in classical discipline and contemporary perception theory. At its core is the relationship between seeing and knowing: how visual intelligence develops rather than is assumed.
Before expression, there is perception.
Before interpretation, there is observation.
Copyright & Intellectual Property
© 2026 Karin Merx / Karin Merx Fine Art. All rights reserved.
All original content contained within this course—including, but not limited to, the course structure, teaching methodology, written and instructional materials, exercises, demonstrations, videos, images, diagrams, terminology, and downloadable resources—is the intellectual property of Karin Merx / Karin Merx Fine Art, unless otherwise stated.
Your course access is personal and non-transferable. Purchasing or accessing this course does not grant permission to copy, reproduce, redistribute, publish, upload, share, resell, commercially exploit, teach, adapt, or otherwise make the course content or resources available to others.
Course materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part, including for use in another course, workshop, membership, teaching programme, publication, website, social media content, or other commercial or educational offering, without prior written permission.
You may use the course materials for your own personal learning and artistic development. You may discuss and share your own experiences and insights gained from the course, provided that you do not reproduce or distribute the course materials themselves.
All third-party materials and references remain the property of their respective copyright holders and are subject to their own rights and permissions.
Unauthorised use, reproduction, distribution, or commercial exploitation of these materials may constitute an infringement of intellectual property rights.
Course Instructor
