Edison

Thomas Edison was a hero of mine when I was growing up in our mutual home state of New Jersey. I loved reading biographies about him. I also loved the inspiring quote below (which I discovered today that I have mis-remembered):

Edison was asked about inventing the light bulb. He had tried 10,000 different materials that didn't work, before finally finding one that did.
Edison responded, "I haven't failed 10,000 times; the light bulb was an invention with 10,001 steps."

I believe this philosophy can be applied to painting. Don't overly concern yourself with any individual painting. Just get the painting out the door. Later you will look back and see that each painting was an essential step in getting you to the point you eventually reach as a painter.

Here is the exact quote, by the way.