Yesterday, some friends and I were discussing the definition of a professional artist versus that of an amateur. They mentioned a number of criteria. I've been doing some thinking on the subject, and combining their thoughts with a few of my own, I've come up with a few ways you might be able to tell if you're a professional or an amateur.

1. You might be a professional artists IF:
You get, on the average, three calls per week asking you to paint signs.

You might be an amateur IF:
They expect you to do them for FREE!
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2. You might be a professional artist IF:
You have over 153 finished paintings sitting around your studio waiting for a buyer.

You might be an amateur IF:
You have over 153 UNfinished paintings sitting around your studio MOCKING you.
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3. You might be a professional artist IF:
You have paint under ALL your fingernails.

You might be an amateur IF:
You have paint under ALL your fingernails and you put it there yourself thinking it might improve your image and make you LOOK more professional.
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4. You might be a professional artist IF:
Your cat has traces of pthalocyanine green on it's paws.

You might be an amature IF:
You painted a picture of your cat USING pthalocyanine green.
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5. You might be a professional artist IF:
You spend more time tinkering with your Website than painting.

You might be an amateur IF:
Your Website looks BETTER than your paintings.
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6. You might be a professional artist IF:
you have a degree in art.

You might be an amateur IF:
you have 98.6 degrees.
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7. You might be a professional artist IF:
you have a studio the size of a two car garage.

You might be an amateur IF:
your studio IS your two car garage.
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8. You might be a professional artist IF:
you attend lots of wine and cheese art show openings each year.

You might be an amateur IF:
you open lots of wine and cheese each year.
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9. You might be a professional artist IF:
you have printed an ebossed business card.

You might be an amateur IF:
You Xerox your drivers license as a business card.
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10. You might be a professional artist IF:
you show your work in an upscale restaurant.

You might be an amateur IF:
you WORK in an upscale restaurant (like McDonald's)
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11. You might be a professional artist IF:
you smile knowingly in reading these items.

You might be an amateur IF:
you wonder how I came to know so much about you.