Realism and especially that genre of painting known as photo-realism isn't especially beloved by the elite of the art world, or the "hip" and "cool" of any world. I enjoy it though. I admire the work and dedication which must go into these paintings, obviously not something that could be dashed off while "under the influence" of any stimulant. (Left: 42nd Street Crosstown Bus by Richard Estes) Richard Estes is one of the founders of the school of photo-realism, also referred to as super- or…