/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

Can anybody here give me some advice on digital painting?

So I started using a tablet for the first time back in November. At first it was just screwing around with flats and lazy multiply shadow layers/lumi highlight layers, but I've since been trying to make the transition towards rendering on a single layer, and I just don't feel like I'm making any progress.

I slapped down some line art and flats as a general guide, but this is the 3rd time I've tried painting this thing now and I just think it looks fucking awful. I can't shake the fact that it's so reminiscent of those gross Disney Princess digital illustrations if you know what I'm talking about.

I really want to learn how to achieve that sort of painterly style you see people like Cyancapsule rocking, but even after watching tutorials I'm just really struggling to implement the techniques. Obviously more value studies are necessary, but is there anything else that can be recommended? Glaring errors in my attempts? I've never hit a brick wall like this before and I'm incredibly frustrated by my own ineptitude,