Yes. I think it is. But sometimes I think maybe it’s not so important. In an age where artistic power is handed to us by the likes of Photoshop, Painter and Illustrator, I think a mind-blowingly good idea, composition and use of color may just compensate for the fact that someone who calls themselves an artist can’t draw. But that’s what the outcome has to be: mind-blowing. Otherwise, the use of visual arts software is just a lazy tool for those who skipped Drawing 101. Of course there are also the visual, audio, touch, taste-related manifestations of art which don’t necessarily focus on the ‘old-fashioned’ notion of transferring objects to paper, but I’m going to keep it simple. Is the ability to draw important anymore?
