As far as art is concerned, I think what you take away from an image when you view it is much more important than what went into the image when it was created. Modeling in itself is an art form, but using the model as a tool to create an image is no less an art form than the creation of the model. If I did a painting and used a likeness of a sculpture in my painting, are not both the sculpture and my painting both art. Different skills and techniques, but still art.