Crossword Genius

It is very good time to be an artist (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tissot

'artist' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'it is very good time' is the wordplay.
'it is' becomes ''tis' ('tis' is short for 'it is').
'very good' becomes 'so' (as in the adjectival form 'just so!').
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'tis'+'so'+'t'='TISSOT'

'to be an' is the link.

(Other definitions for tissot that I've seen before include "French painter of fine society" , "James --, French artist" , "painter of Victorian scenes" , "James -, nineteenth century French painter of high society" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app