From A Writer’s Notebook:
Stop being ashamed of being an artist.
Stop being ashamed of thinking of yourself as an artist, or of wanting to be one.
Making art, and/or wanting to make art, is just about the least shameful thing you can do. Whether your art is writing or painting or acting or something else, it should not be embarrassing. The most important person you need to please when it comes to making art is yourself.
The world has enough doubt and cynicism and general terrible feeling in it, without this unnecessary shame. Love something. Want something. Care about something. Do it with your whole heart.
Link to the rest at A Writer’s Notebook