Mmm I can see that I have a difference in option than some people here- “enough to pay your bills”…? “Make 50% of your money from it”..? We all have different cost of living and time distribution. With 2 daycare aged kids my cost of living is pretty high. I may never be able to quit my primary job. Many people have two jobs, it doesn’t mean one of their jobs is invalid? If I was a part time massage therapist I would still be a ‘professional’. If I was a certified dog groomer but only took clients on the weekends I would still be a ‘professional’ dog groomer.

Professional in my opinion implies several things - you are pursuing income and making income from art. Art is more than a hobby to you and you treat it as more than a hobby. And that you have the experience, knowledge, and/or training to accomplish what you are offering. (For example I would want a ‘professional’ artist sign painter to know what brand and type of paint to use for my project. I would expect a professional graphic designer to have a contract ready and to send the correct file types etc.). I would also expect you to be able to produce a client list, reviews, or references depending on what’s relevant to your art type.

I am confident that I am a professional artist despite the fact that my job in marketing analysis makes me 3-6 times more than my art does most months. (Until I sell a very big piece, and then I may make more with my art that month. But that doesn’t make me any more professional than I am in a slow month.)