To be fair to the "people" if you don't make money doing it (and aren't already rich) then it's just a hobby you want to turn into a profession and have, statistically, little hope of ever doing so.
You can't blame them for being puzzled.....if people said to me what do you do, you're a financial consultant aren't you? and i said....well, not really...i'm actually a parrot breeder, right now i've only got one but he's horny as hell i've a budgie on order and i'm on this forum.........
The only people i tell that i write are other finacial consultants......doing "art" for little money is like telling the KKK that you think Beyonce is pretty hot.
Should add...those like Griff who are starting to rock the dream are stuck....you have to just own up