I think it's both. A lot of artists are hobbyists, not professionals. But as someone said, how can you cut up fabric, redesign it, and NOT call it artistic? Fabric and thread are your medium, just like paint is a painter's medium. I think it's very cool that you want and are able to afford to get a degree. But if you don't want to keep explaining, say you are getting the degree to help with your artistic designs, not your "quilting."