Is it art if you're getting paid?

[librarydanceparty]

When I grow up, I want to be an actor. I've been doing community and school theatre for about 8 years, and I've heard a bunch of different opinions relating to this.

So basically the question is: Can something for which you are being paid to do be called art?

Here's what I think: There's definitely a fine line between doing something for profit and doing something because you feel strongly about it. I think that everyone needs to eat, so unless you are ridiculously rich and can afford to do what you love for absolutely no money at all, then you have to find what you are good at and make money from that.
Of course, I definitely think that Andrew Lloyd Webber or The Beatles sat down at one point and decided to "write themselves a swimming pool" (Swimming pool quote was actually said by McCartney and Lennon at one point) The Beatles are fantastic, and they are considered groundbreaking when it comes to modern music. But when it comes to their status as artists, were they?
So what do you think? What makes someone an artist, and where should the line fall between people who are artists and people who aren't?

I personally find it difficult to put my own feelings on this topic into words, but I hope to get an artsy-fartsy discussion going here.
Come hither, artists(?) of the moon!

[Philosoraptor]

Yes, something you are paid to do can be called art.

Basically, there's nothing wrong with making money from works of art, but if you're making art for the sole purpose of monetary gain, you're doing art wrong.

[Nakor]

If nobody was paid for art there would be very few artists. I once heard it said that whatever the artist considers to be art is. I'm not sure I agree 100% with that, but as a general rule, if someone creates something intending it to be art, it probably is.

[RabbitWho]

Absolutely.

The problem is to make half the money you have to work 10 times as hard, you work so hard you stop loving it, so if you're doing something you don't love you might as well get a normal job where you have more money and more free time.

[Deleted]

definitely yes!
though when you start adjusting your art to sell more, I think you're seeing art in the wrong perspective. at least when it comes to graphic art and sculpting etc.

[maplecoast]

If you create something and sell it, so long as you are proud of what you did, it is art. The moment you start selling any old thing is when it no longer becomes art.

[Leninator]

As long that the money isn't your motivation for the thing you are doing, then I would say it is art.