I think that some quilters are more craftsmanlike, while others are more art-oriented.
I think there is a higher level of artistry in designing your own pattern, selecting all your own colors and textures quilt stitching, than in copying a pattern. Not to say that a quilt made following a pattern or a traditional block is not artistic, but the person making it is falling more in the realm of the crafts(wo)man.
RST