What do you all do?

wayne_f14 how do you give up being an artist?

you can work in Lidl and still be creating, I'd say you'd struggle harder to not think creatively -

is there a minimum requirement of studio hours, work sold etc you have to fulfil so you can label yourself an artist? For me there's more of a problem with the need to proclaim yourself as an 'artist'. who's trying to prove what and to whom?

Yep. Whether you're merchandising a display in a shop or solving a mathematical/scientific problem or writing an essay, you're still being creative. I remember being laughed at trying to tell some art friends that coming up synthesis methods to make particular chemicals is creative! (Which it certainly is, btw :P)

MrSmith you can't all be full time artists earning your living from your art, there just isn't enough paying public to support you, i think the colleges should make you a bit more aware of this before you graduate.

That's what I think my college should have done (it was a sixth form, but one separate from a secondary school). Loads of students did some form of art subject there, and loads had this dream of being an artist for a living, yet sadly in reality it just ain't going to happen for 99%.