I tend to get quite hung up on what exactly 'art' is, and I have pondered seemingly endlessly on this matter. Recently I've been developing a theory that art, or that is what can be deemed to have artistic merit, is the mastery and application of knowledge in a given situation. Allow me to explain:
We wouldn't hesitate to call a painting or a piece of music or a theatre production a work of art, but would we instinctively call a well negotiated contract or a well executed pass in rugby or a cleverly written computer program a piece of art? Well, maybe lawyers, rugby players and computer programmers do, but that's exactly my point: They recognise the skills required to complete the task not just well but to such a standard that it draws admiration and respect from their peers, whether it’s because of tricky circumstances or a particularly aesthetic result.
Art, therefore, is not just something to be enjoyed in your leisure time, it’s an approach towards excellence in whatever field you work in that we are all able to achieve and appreciate. With this in mind, I've come to appreciate the work of others more and more, regardless of the quality of the outcome. As long as there has been an attempt to apply relevant knowledge in response to a given situation, I believe that many people can call themselves artists.