Well if you think of it..... many "Artists" devise their images from real world physical aspects.... Ex. Da Vinci, one of the world's greatest engineers and artists of his time, IMHO, painted the Mona Lisa from an actual person. In essence to couches and such ... the "Arranging a room" is a form of art as it is an expression of the artist. As to the arts of painting, sculpting, etc... yes it is very different but is still a form of art as to it expresses the emotions, thoughts, etc.. of the creator in a graphical/pictorial manner.

So in my opinion, is digital graphics a form of art and are we that make these graphics artists. I would have to say yes to both. I'm not sure how most people design their images, but I try to put my heart and soul into the image as I did with my latest image in my gallery (Titled "Sadness") That image made me depressed while I was making it.