Photograph or Painting ?

I am simply amazed at the level of perfection attained by the painter Dru. Damn.. I really wish I had known this guy when I was at Raleigh. I loved to do sketching and painting when I was in school. My parents strongly believed that anything other than studies if pursued passionately will ruin my life. So, I used to do portrait sketching and painting stealthily late in the night when everyone was blissfully asleep. This has become one of my lost love ..that will never be the same when resurrected. I tried getting back to it but I dont have that wholeheartedness anymore and I just cant imagine myself spending countless hours at a stretch on a painting anymore.