The advances in home computers, tablets and software challenge the definition of the working artists in today’s market.  There are no longer just the pencil to paper or chisel to stone.  Art has seem to become more complex as we artists are needing to not only master the basics of art but are also required to learn how to edit preferences and attributes within a software program.  The question, however, implies that moving more towards the digital and away from the traditional makes us less “real” artists.  We are not like the Rembrants or Degas who lived in an age where they never knew computers and only had tactile materials in front of them to create what was in their minds eye.

In the end, with computers and software, who really is making the art?  Do you owe some of your credit to the companies and programmers who help make the software you are using?  Do we owe Michael Dell or Steve Jobs a portion of our salary because they made the computers that render the film or display the software?

Looking at software programs as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Painter, many of the traditional media is right there in front of you and there really isn’t much difference other than the ability to undo and layer your work.  Someone who is not very familiar to the depths of the program can still easily create and draw or paint art within the program with help of a drawing tablet.    There is still a level of intimidation that computers leave the user who is not typically accustomed to using them. 

Autodesk Maya, on the other hand, is software used by many industry leaders who create 3d animation and special effects.  They say that this software is open ended and you are only limited to what your mind can come up with.  Unlike Photoshop, it is not as intuitive as a drawing program.  There is a level of complexity that this type of software and others like it that raise the question of what type of art this is.  Pushing and pulling data-points around on screen is hardly like drawing or painting.  Knowing how to use the software is another matter that is far from the traditional arts, but the outcome that comes on screen or is set in motion as an animation or film is another matter.  The outcome is definitely art, and therefore we must consider the process as the new age of art.

Digital art is not something that will go away, but will be here to evolve.  It not only makes good business, but it allows the independent artist to easily distribute and share their work over the internet in online galleries.  While the definition of the "new" artist has already been defined for us over this past decade, I believe this will be an occupation that is continually evolving as today’s artists are finding more and more ways to use technology within their work.