Still Life (or still alive)

I'm trying to get motivated. So I set up a still life outside and had a friend (V....) over to lunch with me. We visited and ate al fresco and then I painted the remains of our feast for about an hour. The sun moves surprisingly fast even in that time.

This led me to want to paint a similar scene with a figure. Focusing on the tablescape in the foreground, I want the figure to be pushed to the top of the painting and maybe play with the angles and shapes. And I want to use strong color and a high key. I still wish I could get my sketch quality into the painting when adding color.

This is harkens to a theme I started but stopped because of some negative feedback. I shouldn't have let that stop me.

I think - correction - I KNOW I am too easily lost in trying to please another or work to a specific subject because it may sell or has in the past. I don't trust myself enough or heed my own voice. Maybe those initial forays were lacking but I shouldn't have stopped trying. So I am revisiting the theme. And having a stronger idea of style and color I want to embrace, I will continue to work on these ideas.
​I've lost my way but am trying to fight my way back to my path.