Learn to share your art with others. A professional artist is one who understands the world of business and it’s dealings. If you don’t you haven’t got a chance of being able to get your art into the hands of people who can do something with it. An artist is only someone who has paintings in front of other people. If you are the only one who ever sees your work then it isn’t doing anyone any good is it? Learn the concepts that drive the selling and purchasing of art and implement them into your strategy. Create value you in your art and then deliver it - put it out into the world where others can see it and, hopefully, purchase it. Make an effort to make it easy to market your art and encourage others to help you in your attempts.

Make a contribution in your field. The truly great artists are known for pioneering new methods in their field and for sharing those methods with others. A greedy artist is one with few friends and fewer customers. Take chances, experiment, find new ways of doing things that others will find useful and valuable and then share them with as many people as you can. Be known for being not only a skilled, knowledgeable artist but also for being one that makes an effort to help others.
All of these aspects of being an artist will make the difference between being a hobbyist and truly experiencing success in your field - which is the goal of becoming a professional artist in the first place. These are all small steps that can determine the path your work as an artist will take and whether or not anyone else takes note of that path. There’s little use in being an artist if no good ever comes of it - for you or for the rest of the world.

Really the most important thing of all it simply to remember to create value in your art the very best way you know how. And if for some reason that way isn’t very good or doesn’t earn you any money then you keep learning, you keep experimenting, you keep trying new methods and creating new ideas - whatever it takes to find a way that your art is worthy of other people’s time. Stand on the shoulders of those who came before you and push for new heights. Set goals as high as you can and then take small steps every single day to reach them. Make your art something worth working night and day for - something of genuine value to others.