In this article, the author shares a lesson taught to a sixth-grade art class. Using contemporary art, the students were encouraged to observe the art and have focused conversations about the work. When these discussions are integrated into the daily work of artmaking, they help students understand what it is they are learning. The author's goal was to guide students through the process of looking closely and asking questions, building skills for observation, expanding artists' vocabulary, and providing opportunities to bring new insights to their own creative work.