>Most of them could paint like the masters if they wanted...
This opinion is common and untrue. If you've ever seen Tim's Vermeer, David Hockney, a well-known and very successful 20th painter, claims that Vermeer absolutely could not have achieved a particular gradation without some sort of optical aid. Then, check out https://www.instagram.com/grandcentralatelier/. Buncha 19 year olds with proper instruction developing near-absolute control over the kind of gradation Hockney claims is impossible. Hockney just can't paint, like most 20th century painters.
This opinion is common and untrue. If you've ever seen Tim's Vermeer, David Hockney, a well-known and very successful 20th painter, claims that Vermeer absolutely could not have achieved a particular gradation without some sort of optical aid. Then, check out https://www.instagram.com/grandcentralatelier/. Buncha 19 year olds with proper instruction developing near-absolute control over the kind of gradation Hockney claims is impossible. Hockney just can't paint, like most 20th century painters.