Gift from the sea

This is so realistic that I can't even comprehend that it's actually a painting. How on earth do you do it? Is it painted from life? I understand how traditional art normally works, though oil paint is not my medium. I love how photorealist this is and I can't see any brushstrokes at all. It's way bigger than the art I do. Did it take a very long time? My favorite part of this is the purple bottle and the way it feels all faceted and reflective. Also, the scan quality is one of the best I've seen. I can zoom all the way in to see the texture of the canvas. Very well done painting.