My Oil Painting - Version 1 and Version 2

These are not two different paintings. A dear friend complimented the first version saying, "You're growing in your art skill. Cool" I responded by expressing appreciation for the compliment. Then I added. " I feel like I don't know what I'm doing with that painting - the oil is all over me and my apartment and sink and I can't get it out of the brushes or to dry on the canvas. It feels very early, but it's hard to build on because it's wet-ish. I want to add a white foam - not sure it makes sense, I think it may. It was inspired by a photo but is entirely different."

Passion took over and I worked and worked using brushes, Q Tips, toilet paper and my fingers. If it's not done it probably should be, but I can't help feeling it's almost done. And I keep second guessing that what my friend who's an art maven saw as an improvement has been undone and that I've regressed to my more simplistic style. Why did I invest so much into building black rocks and then cover them up? It made sense in the many moments of enthusiastic painting, which I immensely enjoyed. And as my dad - he should live and be blessed with health, happiness, and nachas - says regarding the fact that my blog garners scant feedback (I believe that today brought the only comment of all the posts now showing), if I enjoy it then it's a good thing. I believe that creating art