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I’ve come across the word “hobby” several times recently, and have weighed the possibility that the epithet might even be applied to my own pursuit of aesthetic excellence.

But I don’t think it should be, and here is why:

In his fascinating book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman advocates hobbies, and gives good examples of high achievers who pursue them. But, as he points out in his description of Rod Stewart’s model train hobby, hobbyists don’t worry themselves much about proficiency.

(By the way, Burkeman’s book is not at all what his title suggests. If you are put off by the idea of managing your time more strictly, this book is for you. Also, if you are looking for ways to manage your time more strictly, maybe you should read this book too.)

As I peruse the work of other artists who display beautifully crafted images in sparkling detail, I get to feeling quite inferior, except that I really don’t want to make that kind of painting, never have. Does that make me a hobbyist? Well, in defense of my professionalism, I actually work quite hard to create paintings that have the look and feel of my own inspiration. I have to say I believe myself to be fairly proficient in that regard.

Also, the purpose of the hobbies that Burkeman suggests is to take one’s mind off stressful career concerns, to relax. My paintings are my career, and have been for a very long time, and painting does not relax me. Not a hobby.

Does any of this remind you of a pursuit of your own? Do you have a conflict over how to regard the passion of your life?

I’ve met many artists who make a living of art, and who produce what my great uncle (via my stepmother), Frank E. Schoonover, called “potboilers,” so named because they provided food for the pot. Some of these artists are happy with their career, others not so much. Their relationship with art may be quite different from mine, perhaps they seek proficiency in a completely different facet of the discipline, but I would never consider their career a hobby either.

What a label to apply to another person’s heartfelt work! And yet passersby often do.

I had just finished and sent in my taxes when I wrote my first draft for this article. (I am not a billionaire; I am happy to pay my taxes, and believe that the USA of yore could better allocate that money than I could by myself.)

Anyway, filling out Schedule 1 and Schedule C can be tedious, but I’m used to it. Thing is, if you fail to make a profit for a couple of years, the IRS will designate your artistic career a hobby, and take away your business status. I believe the intent is to disallow you to reduce your taxes by declaring phony losses. (Who would do that? Oh yeah, I know.) I would rather absorb my losses than declare them, if doing so will preserve my professional career.

So, was Vincent Van Gogh a hobbyist? Modigliani? Along with numerous other financially unsuccessful artists? No, of course not. Lucky for us, those guys had support, as did I. In my case a determined gentleman gave up 35 years of his life supporting me and saving up so that I could spend my last years realizing my dreams.

I am a professional artist.