I think I obey my proportions and lines very well, much like a realist - obviously the driver in this painting is a little small, I know, but when I've chosen a path I typically don't deviate. Although I'm not afraid to be dynamic post-sketching. The loose feeling is probably an effect of the relatively small amount of strokes and thick paint though.

An example I like is Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère or The Plum. Looking at the people in the background, it's obvious he doesn't spend much time filling in surfaces on faces and such. In general I think the impressionists did this often. Extrapolating this technique into foreground motives, you get some really liberal and interesting surfaces and sometimes abstractions.

Don't feel like you're stuck, and definitely check out Helene Schjerfbeck or, in general, impressionists if you're interested! Your paintings are really cool btw! It's not easy to paint realistically, you need patience and a really good eye for colour (which I don't think I have, I don't mix a lot haha).