The Art Behind the Artwork: Why Process Matters

"Sometimes, the most important part of art is not the finished object before us, but the story of how it came to be.”

It has been a long time since my last blog post and newsletter. It might feel like silence on my end, but in reality, I have been drawn to many projects, mostly preparing for a new exhibition. This work has been slow and quiet, often invisible, yet it has kept my mind fully engaged. Spending time in this behind-the-scenes stage reminded me how much the process of making shapes the work itself - and how easily it can be overlooked.

We often treat the finished artwork as the most important part of creation. It is what gets shared, liked, exhibited and remembered. And yet, the final stage is only a small fragment of the energy behind it. The real work is found in experimentation, revisions, failures and discoveries - the countless small decisions that transform an idea into something meaningful.

Laying down wool is always quite therapeutic for me.

Felting makes this especially clear as the process is so visible in terms of fibres transforming in front of our eyes. The material is constantly changing - light, scattered fibres gradually become dense and structured through careful layering, wetting, rolling and shaping. Each wool behaves differently and even subtle changes in the process can alter the outcome. Mistakes are inevitable and sometimes they are frustrating - but they are also part of the conversation with the material, guiding the work in ways I could not have predicted. While felting, the process becomes a dialogue between the material and myself. Sometimes the fibres behave exactly as expected, sometimes they surprise me, forcing adjustments. Every roll, every shaping, every subtle shift leaves its mark on the final piece. These traces - the uneven edges, the subtle textures - are not flaws but records of the time, decisions and energy spent during the making process.

I have had plenty of moments like these recently - days when nothing seems to work and the temptation to walk away feels strong. Yet I have chosen to stay and work through them. It is important to step back when needed - take a break, breathe, but do not give up. These pauses are an opportunity to see your work from a distance, to reflect on what is not working and to reconnect with the original idea. Such moments are part of the natural rhythm of creation - times that allow the work to evolve in unexpected directions. Frustration, setbacks and challenges are not obstacles - they are a natural part of the process of making something with your hands. Embrace it.

Experimenting with rustdyeing has been my latest learning process.

But how do you overcome these moments of feeling stuck, confused and creatively lost?

Personally, for me, notebooks are a constant companion in my practice as they really help me to work through these moments of being stuck. I have many journals - for reflection, planning notebooks, project-specific sketchbooks - but even one notebook can be transformative. Writing down observations, sketching ideas or analysing completed work creates space for exploration. Sketching is not about producing a perfect drawing, it is about discovering new possibilities and letting ideas unfold.

The beauty of felting - and of all art - lies as much in the journey as in the result. By embracing the process rather than rushing toward perfection, the act of making becomes as meaningful as the finished piece. Each stage adds lessons to be learnt, memories and discoveries into the work, creating depth that a finished object alone could never carry. In the end, the story of how something is made is often as valuable as the thing itself.

Taking daily inspiration photos can also be like a creative diary for yourself.

For a long time, I used to put pressure on myself to create the perfect piece for every show — something flawless, something that lived up to every expectation I had in my head. I was so focused on the finished outcome.

But the more I grow in my practice, the more I realise that each artwork is simply a reflection of where I am in my creative journey today. Not yesterday, not tomorrow - today. And that is enough as I learnt to value the beauty of the process of creating something with my hands.

Thinking about your own practice, do you take enough time to truly embrace the process? If not, here are a few ideas you might try incorporating into your daily creative practice. These are like simple habits, which help you to notice the invisible process behind your daily routines.

Ideas for Embracing the Process

• Keep a creative diary or notebook. Make it your personal space for thoughts, sketches, and experiments.

• Write down every idea. Even the ones that seem small or fleeting—they might inspire something bigger later.

• Analyse each finished piece. Reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what surprised you.

• Record materials and techniques. Include amounts, suppliers, tools, methods and samples for future reference.

• Note your emotions when stuck or frustrated. Sometimes your feelings can reveal what the work truly needs.

• Capture inspirations. Colours, textures, emotions, nature, music or anything that sparks curiosity.

• Take photos of works in progress. Seeing the stages visually can reveal patterns, growth and decisions you might otherwise forget.

• Keep sketches of alternative ideas. Even ideas you don’t pursue can inform future projects.

• Experiment with small studies or samples. Testing materials, techniques, or colours in a mini-version reduces pressure and expands understanding.

• Create mind maps or concept/vision boards. Visualise your ideas, themes, and inspirations to see connections you might miss.

• Track your timing and workflow. Noticing how long stages take can help you plan and understand your rhythm.

• Document “failures” or unexpected results. These often hold the most interesting lessons.

• Write short reflections at the end of each day or session. Even a few lines about what you learned or discovered keep the process alive.

• Record questions rather than answers. Sometimes asking “what if?” is more valuable than solving a problem immediately.

Hopefully, you find some useful tips here for yourself. I briefly mentioned the importance of sketching, but this is such a deep subject, that it needs its own time to shine. So, next time, I will share more thoughts about sketching.

Until then,

Reena

P.S I have also updated my website and you can find out more about my creative process in the new Studio page here. If you would like to receive my newsletter with studio updates, please sign up here.