I think you and the grandparent underestimate your own abilities. I CAN replicate a lot of art if I were to put some effort into it, and I CAN create original art without replicating it.
It's just that I don't wanna, and I appreciate other people's efforts more than my own, etc.
Art is not about effort -> result, it's an interesting combination of factors.
My own framing: art isn't an object, it's an experience. I call an object _intended_ to trigger art experiences an art-object, but people often have art experiences that don't involve an art-object.
I think this framing makes it clearer that you could copy an art-object that previously gave you an art experience with perfect fidelity and not end up with an object that gives _you_ an art experience (though it help others have an art experience).
It's just that I don't wanna, and I appreciate other people's efforts more than my own, etc.
Art is not about effort -> result, it's an interesting combination of factors.