The creation of a work of art is indicated to result from <i>expressive awareness</i>,achieved<br> as the artist matches images and methods. This study examined how novices, who tend<br> to produce artistic expressions reproductively, acquire such <i>expressive awareness </i>over<br> several weeks of practice of photography. We conducted case studies with two con-<br>ditions: 1) one participant took photographs and reflected on her own work; 2) one<br> participant imitated eminent works of creative expression in the domain and reflected<br> on her own work. The results showed that the participants acquired <i>expressive aware-<br>ness </i>in both conditions, but the scope of the <i>expressive awareness </i>was different. The<br> participant who practiced only reflection on her own work started to focus on precise<br> methods of expression, while the participant who practiced imitation as well as reflec-<br>tion started to produce creative expressions and tried consciously to control her creative<br> processes. The findings of this study are potentially useful for developing educational<br> practice in art schools.