Rognoll's Sketchbook

[kerm]

You shouldn't use word crap so much. Nothing is crap. Every piece pushes you forward. But I kind of understand how you feel. I felt the same and it probably never stops if your eye exceeds what your hand can do (which is actually good thing after all, it keeps you growing). Sycra gives a good lecture of this here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb0g_gWrNf8 So don't worry. :)
You said that you're trying to speed up the process. Maybe it's a better idea to slow down a bit, take your time, enjoy yourself. Plan everything, do a mindfull, step by step process. Speed will come after all. The other thing... the muddy value might not be your fault actually. Did you try to set up your brushes a bit? Watch Feng, he has a point here I think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYB6Ztgwd3M
What resolution do you paint in? Maybe you should think of a greater image resolution. If you have to put the detail with 1 or 2 px brush, that's bad and that's what limits you. Try to set up the brush according to Feng, try bigger resolution and then do a value study again. It might improve automatically. Because you know a bit of stuff and you keep on working so... it might be the device and rushing trough process what limits you.
When it comes to values, keep it simple, really.
Those are a good things to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG7qa9daAbw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxiM4uORjq8
Try painting some cuttlery and fruits from nature. Skip the colour at first, do the values only. I know it's quite uninspiring but fruits are a good teacher, really. It helped me a lot.
Keep up! Keeping my fingers crossed.