Is it art, or just awful? Beijing granny’s portrait sketches draw a mixed response online
65-year-old ‘artist’ said she spent seven years practising before going public, critics say it wasn’t long enough
A sketch artist from Beijing has found fame online after eagle-eyed art critics noticed that all of her portraits have an uncanny resemblance, local media reported.
The woman behind the work is a 65-year-old grandmother, identified only by her surname Zhang, who produces pencil portraits of visitors to Shichahai, a popular scenic attraction in the city, Legal Evening News reported on Wednesday.
While Zhang admits she is still mastering her art, she felt she was ready to offer her services to the public, the report said.
“I practised drawing for seven years before I was confident enough to come out. I have painted like this for about a year now,” she was quoted as saying.
Despite the lengthy apprenticeship, when Zhang’s work went viral online, several critics suggested she go back to the drawing board. The problem, the report said, is that all of her portraits look pretty much the same. A slight variation in hairstyle or T-shirt logo is often all that distinguishes one from another.