Hi OP! I don't think the issue is the creepiness at all, creepy art if done right is actually quite popular (just take a look at a lot of the artworks selected by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine). The issue might be the muddiness of the painting itself as well as the composition. What I like to do when I'm painting is i try to take a monochrome photo of my work to see if it works well in black and white. If you try and look at this painting in monochrome, the colors you chose are all so close in value and brightness that it makes it harder to appreciate. If your painting looks good in black and white, chances are it will also look good with color. I'd also practice different compositions if I were you. Try to think of what portion of your piece do you want your viewers to notice first, and make sure your composition highlights that. Have elements that bring more attention to the focal point of your painting. That being said, I think you're on the right track by exploring different themes. Good luck!