Vivian, you crack me up so much!
I am a professional working with twenty something years in the painting world, but I sure don't look or act professional when I'm in the studio with paint everywhere including my hair and screaming at the phone to "get lost!". I have made a shocking amount of income with my art and have been in shock over not making a dime from my as you say professional work. Why? I do have a straight job now that is of zero interest in this forum, but I'm greedy enough to say that struggling with art pay every year is terrible since it involves quite the investment of materials, and extreme exhaustion in serving customers.
There is great news though, I put my health first these days, I'm positive, and happy. I'm creating more art than ever with about five hours per day on my days off in the studio painting, and three hours per night on the computer. I pay thirty dollars a month for my professional tools on the computer; they are the current tools that art students use in college and there is more than just software, because the computer, scanner, and camera are equally important even if you are a painter. College does help folks to understand the business for sure, but more importantly, I have a clear cut business model and I'm selling my work mostly in film production, and as merchandise in retail. I think being a professional is slightly over-rated. I prefer to be happily educated in the arts and doing what I love to do in my free time.
How about you, Debb; are you considered a professional in your business?
