I've been thinking a lot about the role of the creator and the role of the viewer, in the creative process and how they are intrinsically intertwined, much like dance partners.....Salsa, Waltz, Disco.... take your pick!
Art by its very nature is a collaborative experience between the artist and the audience. The artist makes the painting with an intention (generally, but not always) that other people should see it at some point and that the work be shared with others.