[nerdponx]

To the untrained eye, this looks much more challenging than something more abstract. I am untrained myself, and I'd appreciate an explanation of why this isn't technically interesting. It's not like every art school grad can do this.

[specialist]

It appears Kareem Waris Olamilekan is working freehand. Very impressive. Drawing (drafting) with charcoal is challenging. Even when you're "just" copying.

The mind reels at what this young artist would do with better tools, materials, mentorship.

Even the master's had their tricks to achieve realism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Vermeer#Theories_of_m...

[golergka]

> To the untrained eye, this looks much more challenging than something more abstract.

Judging art by the challenge to the artist's skill to create it is exactly the 19nth century thinking that I'm talking about. We already have cameras and photoshop and 3d modelling software - if something can be created by a tool, I don't see any value in creating it by hand, except for the skill training in itself.