I wasn't thinking so much of rendering as the idea that "...realtime computer games might look better than our stills." My point was only that photorealism need not be the holy grail of 3D imagery created with the use of a computer. Nor need "non-photorealistic" automatically mean abstract. But sticking with the abstract scenario you may have seen the Bryce rendered abstractions by Bill Ellsworth. Unfortunately, his old website seems to have disappeared but one example may be found at: http://www.metasynth.com/BRYCEART/Brycers/EdgeofForever.jpg For further abstracts you might look at Huff's Maya renderings at: http://www.itgoesboing.com Both of these artists are rather "render intensive". So while a renderer is not necessary for abstract art it certainly is useful in the proper hands. Sometime ago I did a short and rapid series of very simple and decidedly non realistic city images to make a point in another forum. Amazingly, it wound up as a show in a small local gallery. Even more unbelievably, I actually sold a number of prints! http://www3.sympatico.ca/jackvalero/urbana/ - Jack