#1 Why would you care about their opinion of you and your hobby and interests?
#2 It was rude. People are often rude. It'll happen more in life as you go along.
#3 Make sure that more of your artwork includes your snakes from now on... just for them. I'd make EVERY artwork include snakes somehow, just because.
#4 Rant about it on site like here where people understand your frustrations in people thinking your pets are "icky". We understand. Person was stupid. Arg arg. Move on.

Look at some pics of cool reptiles. Drink some hot cocoa. Relax.