Is it 3D Art...Art?

I have a friend who has never used anything except a pencil to draw with--though, she has started drawing with that tablet thing in Photoshop. She does not like 3D art, saying it is not truly art because it does not come from my imagination. She says that I don't draw the people, I just put them down, change their look, and move their bodies how I want. I've tried to tell her that it is just a faster way of doing art, and it is also good for people like me who can't draw a straight line with a ruler.

But my question is, is it art or is it just manipulation? She considers manipulation art because the people who photomanipulate take their own pictures, but she says Poser is cheap and cheating. Is she right?

Just a question for discussion.

Verileah 18 years ago
Maybe you should invite your friend to TAC and we can discuss.

(See how I'm always, -always- whoring the board? *collects secret brownie points*)
tamaelia 18 years ago
We kinda had this conversation a while back, though it was more looking at 3D stock.

http://theangrycrayon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8647

My personal view is that I keep my thoughts to myself about what other people consider creativity. I can't sculpt for love nor money. I can't write a sonata nor can I choreograph a ballet. I can draw and I can use modern art programs. I am as creative as Van Gogh or Mozart inasmuch as my creativity satisfys my need to express myself in art.

People who feel the need to criticise someone else's method of expression disappoint me.

As far as 3D art goes, my personal take on it is that it is art. 3D stock, is... less so but still art. Drawing a stick figure is still art if that is the best one can do and it satisfies their soul. Why seek to diminish someone else's mode and muse?
Eve 18 years ago
Not gonna go into the whole debate, but you might inform your friend that the majority of photo manipulators rarely take their own photos, at least not the ones I've seen around. Sure some might, but not as many as she seems to think.
Den 18 years ago
However you choose to create, imo, is art. Art is completely subjective, as shown by Pollack, Picasso, etc. I don't care for all mediums of art, or all art in mediums I do like, but to each their own. I think people get too critical of mediums other than what they're familiar with, or use, and I disagree with that. As Tamelia said...some people sculpt, some people write screenplays, some people take great photographs...each is an artform, and should be respected as such, even if you don't care for it.

(A movie takes real people and manipulates them as the characters were created to be...isn't that similar to using poser?)
tamaelia 18 years ago
omg.. I totally want in on the secret brownie points btw!!
Beli 18 years ago
Even if you took a bunch of Barbie dolls and arranged them like so and took photographs, it's still art. It may not be art that appeals to her, but it doesn't matter -- it'll be art whether she approves or not.

It sounds like she can't do Poser. She'd have to learn the program and figure out how to set up the models first. Unless she can whip 3D art out herself, she's not in the position to sneer at something she has no knowledge of how to do. She's knocking something she hasn't tried, simply put.

And one last thing -- I've seen plenty of pencil artists drool over 3D art and get very excited when their characters are rendered by a 3D artist. They do appreciate that it's simply a different set of skills, one they haven't mastered themselves! ;)
Lessa 18 years ago
If youre using your time and patience and creativity and emotion to make something that portays all that youve put into it, its art, however youve accomplished it.

Ive seen art done with copypaper and aluminum cans and food and ice and pen and pencil and paint and computers and magazine clippings ( decoupage ( sp) ) and so many other means.. is it fair for someone to judge whether it is art or not because they dont know what went into it themselves?


really, if you enjoy it, and if you can get your feelings and thoughts portrayed through what you do, how can it not be art? There are different types and styles of art.. yes, but theyre still all artistic and all worthy of the title "art"

..this is in Kissmypixels.dA sig..
"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."
I love that.
Jetamio 18 years ago
And one last thing -- I've seen plenty of pencil artists drool over 3D art and get very excited when their characters are rendered by a 3D artist. They do appreciate that it's simply a different set of skills, one they haven't mastered themselves! :wink


Hehe, thats me :) Until about last summer, I thought all the 3D renders I saw were just drawn in Photoshop and took a bloody long time to do so much detail o.O I have started learning to do it myself, but its certainly not as effortless as it may appear to those who never tried it lol.

Art is expressing yourself, no matter what form imo.
WildHunt 18 years ago
Yeah, I could never understand how people did some of the 3D art I saw around. I was amazed that they could do a painting with a character and then do another and make the character look exactly the same. It astonished me, and I really wished I could do it. Then I saw Sabby's DA page, and it had the answer. So, I thought I'd give it a shot. It's difficult, and I grew to really appreciate the efforts everyone puts into their work. Mine isn't nearly as good as anything done by people who have been doing this for awhile, but I'm getting positive comments from people, so that's a good thing. :) I'm just happy that I can finally see characters I've been wanting to view for awhile from my stories. When I attempt to publish my first book, Poser will be helping me with the cover. :)
ROzbeans 18 years ago
The question here isn't is 3d an art form, but whether what a friend is considering yours doesn't see what you do as a legitimate art. Kind of shitty if you ask me.
Sabby 18 years ago
WildHunt;82864
Then I saw Sabby's DA page, and it had the answer.


Hey!! What did I do? Don't blame me for your addiction to Poser, lol~ *hugs*

I think as all the folks above me have said, art is art. If you make it and you feel good about it and it represents something to you, it is art. Even if no one else in the world likes it. It is still art.

-Sabby
FyreGarnett 18 years ago
that's rather like asking if something is "good". i've seen stuff in museums that i, personally, would not consider art - but i can appreciate the time effort and vision required in order to create whatever the heck it was. i've had people look at me like i was nuts for "wasting" my time on my art - and others who were simply floored - and wanted to learn more. i'm always flattered when a "traditional" artisit compliments my work, just as i'm flattered when something i produce gets good reviews around here from the other poser addicts. honestly, those comments mean more to me - alot of it because of the caliber of talent around here!

i'm with Roz - though i might add that your friend sounds just a wee bit jealous over the fact that you can produce artwork of your own.

and Sabby - you know you did it!!!
WildHunt 18 years ago
You know, Roz, you're right. It is rather crappy that she doesn't look at my art in the same light she looks at her own art. I guess I'm just too forgiving. *shrug*

As for you, Sabby--I was looking around your site, and you have in big, bold letters what program you used, so I bought it for myself. I'm not blaming you at all--I'm thanking you! :) I just still wish I had a bit more talent in using the program. *shrug*

Fyre, I'm with you--I'm floored by the talent everyone here has. Their stuff is just so beautiful! My stuff pales by comparison to everyone else around here. So, when anyone from around here or DA compliments my stuff, I know I did well. :)
Mai 18 years ago
Personally its not whether its an art or not an art as far as I'm concerned. What's more important is how much of yourself, time and creativity, did you put into it. I've seen a lot of soulless 3D artwork, mass produced, standard poses, lights, clothes, done in record time. Its not original nor interesting; it might get some favs on deviant art because of the glam factor that is easily gotten with buying poser stuff but it just doesn't have that spark.

On the other hand, I've seen some people put serious work into their 3D art. You can tell there was thought and time spent on each and every little detail. It wasn't simply take this super sexy morph set and stick some scantily clad clothes on her and call it done.

I think what bothers most people who don't do 3D artwork but do 2D art is that it seems easy to get recognition for even mediocre pieces. You don't get so much praise for a kinda interesting sketch or a decent but over done photo. (oh look -another- sunset on the beach and this one wouldn't even make it on a postcard) So its frustrating to watch a friend toss something out that took less than 2 hours and yet get tons of comments while your work that took you weeks sits there commentless, lost in the desert wastelands of forgotten DA deviations.

And lest you think I am simply a bitter 2D artist, I do have poser, bryce and several 3D modelling programs. However, last I checked, my most commented piece on DA is a poser piece that took about 30mins to render done as a joke for Roz. It has a sexy model in a scantily clad outfit...colour me shocked.

Do what you do and do it the best you can. Who cares what everyone else titles it.
Sabby 18 years ago
WildHunt;82900
Fyre, I'm with you--I'm floored by the talent everyone here has. Their stuff is just so beautiful! My stuff pales by comparison to everyone else around here. So, when anyone from around here or DA compliments my stuff, I know I did well. :)


Want to buy a bottle of Avre Talent~
WildHunt 18 years ago
How much for a bottle, Sabby? :) If you can help me make my stuff look half as good as the stuff on Damapro (or a quarter as good as your stuff) I'll keep you in money for a good, long while. :)

Mai, I know what you mean about getting recognition for mediocre pieces. Sometimes, I wonder if that's what I'm suffering. I'm trying hard to make some of my pieces the best I can. Yes, I do some pieces that are just model pieces, but I most of my stuff I try to do as full fantasy scenes with a backstory. Those are the ones I'm worried are being overlooked or aren't really as good as I would like them to be but people are raving over, anyways.

The artist I respect most as a 3D artist is Sabby. Her stuff takes my breath away with each and every piece she makes. I know a lot of postwork has to go into her stuff, but postwork is a nightmare for me. I don't even know where to begin with postwork. I tried using some brushes in photoshop once, but it ruined what I had done in Poser instead of enhancing it, so I quickly did not save the piece. So it's the artists who can work in Photoshop that I respect far more than just the ones who do pieces in Poser (like myself). They are the true 3D artists.
Eve 18 years ago
*hugs Sabby* Took me like a full minute to figure out what Avre talent was.... perhaps I need more caffeine?
WildHunt 18 years ago
I still don't know what Avre talent is. LOL.
tamaelia 18 years ago
Adiene/Vex/Roz/Eve

/pours Eve a big cup of coffee. :)
ROzbeans 18 years ago
I think I'm in that by default, not by talent hehe.