There is a bridge somewhere in the Persian slang that is called literally "sareh pole khar koshi". To translate it literally it would mean "on top of the mule killing bridge". If you ever found yourself standing there you better be prepared to pull the job you're in flawlessly or you're dead as all the other mules that tried and failed.  

Holding a palette knife in hand is the fastest ticket to the top of that bridge. There's only one way for that kind of work to look right and everyone's else's ways and styles are just mediocre.

As a realist artist it is one's job to constantly walk up to that bridge  for an other reaffirmation to one's right to where he stands.

Painting is magic, .. and more.