Called artist no good! (4)
I believe the answer is:
rang
'called' is the definition.
('ring' can be a synonym of 'call')
'artist no good' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'no' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation).
'good' becomes 'g' (abbreviation).
'ra'+'n'+'g'='RANG'
(Other definitions for rang that I've seen before include "Chimed" , "Called" , "Made a phone call" , "Phoned; did resound" , "Made tolling sound or phoned" .)