Why do the Scientists rely on the Artists?

This article about the earliest flying dinosaur is just another example to me that scientist don't have any clue what these ancient creatures used to look like. Here is the Article It seems to me that all scientist do is unearth the bones, look for clues, write down all the info and then hand it to an artist and say "Here, draw us what that looked like." NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE!
No one was alive to document how these animals looked or behaved, we can't just figure that out by comparing them to animals that live know and hope that they had the same social behaviors and evolutionary patterns. Artists do there best to recreate these dinosaurs, but saying that you can recreate it well enough to test it in a wind tunnel and figure out the origins of flight? COME ON! I don't think so. Birds fly not just because they have feathers, but because of there structure and there are many feathered creatures that just don't fly, so I'm sorry but I don't believe that you will be finding the origins of flight any time soon, just because you like the way that the artist did the rendering. I'm do think it looks amazing, but that doesn't mean that it was like that or that it flew at all.

Art vs Art

As an artist and in discussions I've had with friends and colleagues who are also artists, I've come to the conclusion that there are really just two types of artists. Now hold on, I know many of you are thinking "How can you say that?, there are so many great types of artists?" Although that is true, hear me out. The two main types of artists that I believe exist in the world today are the Artists who focus on the skill, technique, and prowess of an art form and hone that ability over years of effort and artistic endeavors, and then there are Artists who focus on the social ideals of the art form and look for the societal impact that their art can create, then look to expand the minds of their viewers or at least to push an idea forward into the public mind that otherwise would go unsung. So to simplify, there is the Skills Artist, and there is the Social Artist.

These two types of artists absolutely despise the others way of thinking and the processes they choose to follow. The social artist will say "Oh, your just a production artist you don't really understand the meaning of art and how it transcends all thinking and ideologies." Conversely the skills artist will say "That's not art!, why don't you focus on the form and the structure and make something that truly shows the depth and time that goes into the art that you profess to practice?" While both are valid discussion points, I think that both types of artists "Miss the boat" as to what it truly means to be an Artist.

Art is not just the culmination of skill and effort over years of study and practice, and it is not just the social impact or existential way of thinking about the world that makes it art. Art is the raw emotional expression of human existence. Artist's all have the desire to express and emote their ideas and feelings, it is through study of the practices and skill sets that we achieve a start at communicating those emotions and then it is the ability of the artist to apply those expressions to the masses that makes art truly moving and inspiring. Anyone can make art, this is true, the but truly great art is not just made by anyone. It is practiced, refined, expressed, tortured, extracted, and lifted directly from the human soul. Art vs Art is just a comparison of why we think ourselves better than others, Art is and should be an extension of our own human existence and frailties that we have been able to communicate to others in a meaningful and decisive way. Art is Art.

For all you digital artists out there.

Hey all you artists out there! If you really are wondering where all the 3D and digital artists are and you are tired of looking around the web to hunt for them, then look no further. Raph.com is an excellent resource to take a look at current artists and see all the wonderful projects and work that so many great digital artists are working on. I've been able to get some really great ideas and thoughts for my own work by browsing and perusing the artists on Raph.com. So head on over and check it out, and maybe even add your own work to share in the community. Here is the link if you missed it above: Raph

Social networking.

Most recently I attended a graduate get together for the local university and got a chance to meet with and chat with art professors and current graduate level students. It is fun to hear people's projects and catch up on goings on at the university. I don't often get a chance to be in those social relationships so it was a great opportunity for me to network and discuss art. Hopefully we can all create better networking between artist as we all strive to create and inspire.

Chipotle's New film.

In a beautiful, bold move, Chipotle has developed a film that depicts a journey to bring real food back to the people. Accompanied with a game element as well for the IOS there is a lot of buzz around Chipotle and it's efforts to change it's image. Check out the video here: The Scarecrow