What Digital SLR is best for a mid level photographer?

I'm looking for a camera to take artistic professional looking photographs, I'm not wanting a camera for happy snaps. I'm not an armature photographer but not a serious professional I'm still learning but want a camera to still be good enough when I'm more advanced.

I don't want to spend mega bucks the lower the price the better but I'd like genuine recommendations for the best deal and camera. I'd like either a canon or Nikon.

Not a serious professional? Does that mean you sell just a few of your pictures? I suggest you look at the canon D650

With Canon or Nikon there will be nothing to set you apart from the herd and as a result you may not be challenged enough. Canon 60D, Pentax K5-ll, Nikon D5200, Sony A77… All are good,
The Pentax will beat the others where atmospheric photos are required and the Sony will greatly enhance your creativity because it integrates the newer features of digital imagery so fluently. Focus Peaking on its 2.4mp OLED EVF makes manual focusing as simple and reliable as it used to be with split-rangefinder screens on film cameras. It even lets you correct back or front focus on invividual lenses.

Nikon makes a semi-pro dSLR, the D7000.

Canon has a similar priced dSLR, the 60D (although it does not have the environmental seals associated with semi-pro cameras).

Both cost about the same (under $1, 200)

Why? The Pentax K-30 is better than the equivalent models from both.

NIKON D7000