Welcome to Gaia! ::

i havent gone back to school yet to pursue a career, but i feel like art isnt the way for me, just a hobby. but a lot of people tell me "omg become an artist!" im like, im already an artist, i dont need a degree for it.
you could go back to school again if you want and try art this time, and if it doesnt pan out, youre still in the medical field!
i want to go in for marine biology and acting.

You're never to old or too young to go to school. You can always go for art if you truly feel that way. I myself have yet to figure out what I want to do professionally. I went to college because I had to or else I'd lose the one scholarship I had. If anything, like what the others have said, art can be a hobby or something to do to relax you. Or a side thing to earn a bit of extra cash if anyone will pay small dollar amounts for your art. 3nodding

It can be frustrating, but what's even more frustrating is going into your preferred line of work only to be told you can't make money from it. At least with nursing, you have that stability. A lot of my friends who continued through Drawing, Painting, Graphic Design and Animation in the art field are really struggling to find a job or provide individual projects that can be profitable. I myself was a Graphic Design major for 1.5 years before I dropped it and switched, realizing that the odds of getting a job in that field were so slim (at least in my area).

I don't know if this would appeal to you since you mentioned watercolor (and physical forms like that often have a whole other approach), but I changed my Graphic Design mindset into 2D animation (called Motion Graphics). I've got a gig lined up to use Motion Graphics to help promote business products through visual representation. See if your outlet can mold into a more common medium like that (digital is always preferable due to convenience and varying promotional styles/sizes) and you can still do that while working as a nurse. Consider it pure beneficial pay, a little extra cash in your pocket ;]

I majored in visual arts when I was in high school, and it was kind of an eye opener as far as going into an art field is concerned. All of my teachers were professionals in their field, my photography teacher was a photographer professionally, my ceramics teacher, my painting teacher, all professionals. And while they never outright said it, the one lesson learned was that when it comes to having a profession in art, it's all about luck. Most of them only taught at the high school because they didn't make enough as artists to live off of (especially the ones that had family).

I'm not say that to dissuade you, if art was something you truly wanted to do, but simply just to give you something to think about. I know we all make jokes about starving artists, but it's true. Everyone here is right, though, that it's never too late. Even if you just started by taking a few art classes here or there to get yourself back into it. I took art classes for 4 years in high school, and i was still learning when i took a basic drawing class in college. The good news is that you have a profession now, so you can take your time learning and re-learning art. Even if it just ends up staying a hobby, it's always worth it to take a class or two, so maybe give that some thought. Sometimes having that hobby makes a world of difference. It does for me.

Additionally, i'd say talk to some artists. talk to some people who make a living doing this. Also, the type of art you do should factor in. Painting and if it's digital or traditional, photography and if it's digital or traditional. Computer graphics, is big now, but also a competitive field. I have friend of mine who used to make money strictly from commissions, but has a part time job now because times change. The art field is a fickle mistress.