For painters and other visual artists, libraries often stock really big expensive art books that also include preliminary sketches of particular artists. Pick a work that is fairly obscure and as cool as you want and trace the sketch onto your note pad. That way when anyone asks what you're working on, you have something to show them. Get a really obscure work and just change the name. People playing poets who have no poetic talent shouldn't feel too abashed about writing really bad poetry.
Musicians have it pretty tough.
Don't press your work on people, though, unless of course you're a total asshole. Entrance on your own. Don't wait for a GM to tell you to. Just do it. It helps to have a good idea of what your character considers beautiful.