Fellow artists,
I don’t know why we judge or categorize each other’s working methods. It all comes down to which technique best suits the artist themselves, so their personal goals, choices, and methods are none of our business.
As long as the result is there and everything is ultimately created by them—not by AI—where’s the problem ?
Whether someone uses 3D, employs photobashing, or draws inspiration from others’ art (inspiration, not copying, except as part of training) — from my perspective, there’s no problem.
Stop tearing each other apart; it reflects more of a “competitive” mindset aimed at putting down X and Y rather than showcasing your own work.
There you go, peace and hot chocolate !