I think 3D Modelling and all the digital art shall just be seen as an other method of how to express art. In art there are many different ways of expressing your intention. With pencils, with colors, through statuary and also different usages of brushes like in the expressional and impressional period of art. Modelling, Animating, using Photoshop, After Effects or 3D smax/Maya is in my opinion the same. It's just a knew way to do arts. But it is art.