A Beginner's Lesson

Since I can remember I loved art, so much so that I told my kindergarten teacher that I wanted to be an artist. Finally, when I was a junior in high school I decided to sign up for Painting as an elective. I was always doodling on my school papers but I was never an amazing drawer, maybe I'll be decent at painting.
I entered the class excited for getting out the paint and brushes but the first week focused on the fundamentals such as different ways to shade, colors, lines, etc. When we were finally able to paint, an apple with water colors, my painting was horrible. I was devastated. I hated the class.
Things changed a few weeks later when we started to use acrylics. My art teacher came up to me while I was frustrated trying to perfect a monochromatic piece and said something I'll never forget.  In fact, I actually wrote it down later that day so I wouldn't:

'A painting doesn't need to be perfect. It's not a photograph. It's not a drawing. 

It's a painting. What makes a painting perfect is emotions and 

conveying how you feel. It doesn't need to be detailed or overly simple.

It's whatever you make it and how you see the world.'