Age and experience don't always have everything to do with artistic skill. Take the case of <a href="http://diegokoi.it" target="_blank">Diego Fazio</a> - a 25 year-old Italian artist. With only eight years of experience under his belt, Diego produces hyperrealistic pencil portraits of real people, capturing the details of their faces in a manner that seems not quite human. Despite the seeming impossibility, Fazio has made a career of producing such images.

As you can see below, the work done by Diego is nothing short of breathtaking, reproducing images in a manner that makes them virtually identical to a photograph. His process is intricately detailed, usually requiring him to spend over two hundred hours on a portrait! The end product, though, is worth the wait - each image is incredibly realistic, highlighting the lack of detail that is typically present in portraiture. Even a typically realistic portrait can look subpar when compared to one of his pieces, creating a high-water mark for the human hand's ability to replicate what the eye can see.

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When it comes to art that's this detailed, is there really a difference between the pencil piece and photography? Is there a reason to draw by hand if you can produce an identical image mechanically? If you believe in the importance of the artistic process, the answer should be a resounding "yes", but it certainly gives those with an eye towards the world of art a moment to stop and think about hyperrealism.

As you progress with your own artistic endeavors, make sure that you embrace whatever it is that makes you and your artwork unique - and like Diego, find a way to stand out!

<em>All images used with permission. See more at <a href="http://diegokoi.it/opere/" target="_blank">http://diegokoi.it/opere/</a></em>