1 - Skill = Art

2 - Someone just called it 'Copying'.

3 - It's not copying as it involves a measure of rescaling - to a different size. That requires skill.

4 - Copying means exact replication. Machines do that.

5 - The ever so subtle change in scale, with representation intact however.

6 - Is it Art? Yes. Does it need otherworldly talent? No.



Getting an education in art, like any other discipline is about being trained to go out into the world and begin a career and earn a living. That is what any education is for. We no longer live in the 18th century where we go to the university to become educated gentlemen. Any education, especially given today's extreme costs, has to be more practically rooted. Art schools and art teachers are in the business of selling classroom time. It would be against their business interests to tell you that art, as in the creative aspect, is something you do not go to school for. Might we learn or improve one's techniques and at the same time 'learn' creativity in an educational institution?

An education is not just about being trained for work, although it will hopefully help a person get a step up. Modern education is also about learning to think critically, which is very important in today's information saturated world. Yes, you can teach/learn creativity. As a student I learned many valuable lessons in creative thinking. And later, as a professional, I used some of those ideas, and others I'd gleaned along the way. Although I agree that a formal education is not necessary to engage creative and critical thinking (a good mentor is just as valuable) it can certainly help. I found an Arts and Crafts education to be both an inspiration and a hindrance (it took me years to get over certain French theories ;-)

The more time one spends involved with a discipline like drawing/sketching, the more sensitised one becomes to otherwise 'invisible' subtleties. Looking at drawings like Durer's portrait of Erasmus, or Leonardo's silverpoint drawings (which of themselves demand such impeccable skill and control) tell me that level of mastery is something out of this world...

Some of my stuff:

https://manuelaantao.blogspot.com/2020/02/copying-vs-sketching-how-to-draw.html ( )