Study of plants 

Otto Scholderer made this study of plants with graphite on paper. It's a humble medium, but think about all that can be achieved with it. Look closely, and you'll see the artist used many different densities of shading, achieved simply by varying the pressure on the pencil. See how the artist has built up complex botanical forms with simple marks. The quality of line is everything. Some are quick and light, suggesting background foliage. Others are darker, carefully delineating the leaves in the foreground. Consider too, the labor involved in creating an artwork like this. Scholderer patiently worked, mark by mark, to produce the final image. In a world increasingly dominated by mass production, works like this remind us of the value of slow, deliberate craftsmanship. It challenges us to appreciate the time and skill required to create something beautiful and unique. It makes you consider the boundary between art and craft.