I've seen it, and I think there is no point in denying it. you may be insulted for all I care, and you may defend digital art for the last inch of your life, the fact still remains that Man made machine are on the move, and soon will replace your skills in making artworks.

art is not all about skills, though you need skills to execute your ideas in your painting. but what if you have a machine that will do the skill part for you? is it even possible? I got into a moderate debate in an art forum, they all think it is just a myth, a computer cannot make art on it's own, so I should stop insulting them. Why are they so jumpy? and are but hurt all of a sudden, because I said that

"art program are advancing at a very fast rate that all you need now are ideas and the computer do most of the hard part for you"

I said "most of the hard part" not everything. I think they are hiding something, and yes I think they really do, have you heard of Illustrator? it has a tool of what you called the "LIVE TRACE" [link] the program will trace and image for you.

I am taking computer science, and I've seen those Graphic Designer and Programmers are making beautiful artworks for their projects and web developing. But give them a pencil and a paper they won't be able to make at least one decent sketch of anime. I did asked them how they do it? the answer is simple, Computer!

Let me map it out on how they do it.

Step 1. They take pictures from anywhere, their own photography, the net? who cares?.
Step 2. Scan it and use Illustrator CS2 "Live Trace" or other tools they have in Illustrator CS2
Step 3. Take the vector work to photoshop for editing. changing the hair color, clothing, head, arm and feet angles etc...
Step 4. This is optional, they have templates fro anime eyes, nose, mouth, hair strands etc...
Step 5.This is optional, if they want to transform their work into something traditional lookalike, they fix it with Corel Painter. and don't start on me that Corel painter can only produce shitty replica of traditional 'coz it is not true! maybe it is possible if you use the "auto paint" but with a tablet or mouse, you can make it look like it was not done by a machine.

and there are lots of art program you can use to manipulate your work.

What are they missing?
1. the sketch and planning.
2. The preliminary coloring.
3. over all the step by step development of their work.

and until I have not seen any of those, I am and will always be suspicious about their work, but then again a finished work can be reversed engineered amirite? but I have an exception towards Digital artist who are also into traditional and have seen their traditional works.

I am not trying to degrade Digital art, I am also one who works with CG but, I spend time practicing and trying to get used to it, and it made me angry when someone who can't even make a simple anime with pencil can makes wonder with computer programs. Okay I must be jealous but I don't think it's fair, I worked hard to get better and spend years of practice to develop my skills, thank God I only use digital for experiment, but I am beginning to love it, it is cheap compared to traditional. One expenses on the software and a lifetime supply of digital art materials.