Hi Niki!
I can relate to the struggle of finding inner peace as an artist. I am an actress

I find that so much of the time we;re telling ourselves that our work is no good, who do we think we are, who am
I to paint that, say that, write that ...whatever. It's a constant battle with that inner critic.
First I just want to let you know you're not alone!! So many people don't even get to the point where they even begin to do something creative/artistic bc they are in so much fear. So KUDOS to you for being the artist you ARE !! It takes a tremendous amount of courage.
Second, i'd like to suggest two books..... First-- The Artists Way by Julia Cameron. It is THE BIBLE on creativity. And second, Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love. This book was such a revelation for me and I think every woman on the planet should read it. This is my favorite excerpt--
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Keep on truckin Niki
Oh, and one other thing, ...someone else mentioned this in another post, but I believe a daily practice of silence/ meditation in one's life is, without a doubt, the most powerful thing you can do to keep your spirit alive.
If we do not go within, we will go without.

All the very best,
karen