This is so true of me when I try to paint anything (esp. cats on wood slices):
if I start to tinker with it there is no "skillfull crafting" going on, they always get worse, muddied, contrived.
I love the real-life elements you pull in and weave into the tapestry.
Somehow, you get it all right the first time! Only little tweaks - no major reconstruction.
I haven't got the energy to work hard on a story right now, or the interest. I used to enter contests that require more work, and I could take pleasure in them, but now it just taxes my mind too much. I don't want to think hard.