I agree with Rosh- it depends on how far you want to take it. Is a portrait artist a fake because s/he only paints real people instead of making them up? Are sculptors of stone less worthy unless they forge their own chisels? Is a socially motivated artist inept because s/he is merely reflecting attitudes molded by the very society portrayed? The materials and tools used are only incidental to the artist's intent. What counts is what you do with them. That's really the only thing that differentiates high art from low production. I've had discussions with extremely competent 3d modelers who readily admit they couldn't put together a pleasing composition to save their life. And then there are those who consistently produce provocative work with only the most rudimentary understanding of their tools. If the multiple skill sets come together in a single person, the results can be quite interesting. But it is quite demonstrably not a requirement.