Can images created by digital means (painter and modeling programs) rightfully be called art?
The short answer: inasmuch as it is created by the artist as a means of fulfilling his personal vision, of course it is art. To the degree that it relies on pre-created routines or filters from the factory, however, it may also fail to fulfill artistic vision. Art is the translation of an inner vision and understanding from the artist’s mind to yours. That’s why media are called media. Precisely, according to Webster’s dictionary, as derived from the word medium, media is “1: something in a middle position” and “2: a means of effecting or conveying something (3) : a mode of artistic expression or communication (4) GO-BETWEEN, INTERMEDIARY” Art is not a product. Art is communication. Good art conveys many things – a picture is worth a thousand words, remember – it gives you a glimpse into the inner workings of the artist’s mind. In the past, great art also produced a product, a painting, that is true. But bad art also produced a product. What made the better art outstanding was not the
