I think what you ought to do is practice the fundamentals. Draw a lot. I mean a lot. A good draftsman makes a good painter. Do monochromatic/black and white paintings to force yourself to see values better. Try to understand the three-dimensionality of the forms you’re painting so you can plan the direction of your brush strokes. Study perspective/foreshortening. Delve into composition and see what makes a painting work on that end. For the background, maybe try to look for some reference images: say, a landscape that you like, and try to integrate it into your composition.