Thanks

I'm trying to take baby steps... I'm used to painting realistic-ish scenes with oils, and thought it might be an easier adjustment for me >.<

I do like the styles of the maps you linked... and I think *part* of my problem is too much variation in the shades of the trees (even though real trees are all different, but okay...) and part of it might be too much detail with the distance...

So that did help a lot.

I'll make some changes and if it doesn't improve, I might try for a less... realistic style >.<

(I'm never going to get this mapping thing figured out and you all are so patient... )