It’s clear to me from these two recent pixel art pieces, that I need to be more patient (and deliberate) with my art. Especially the edges need work, but also the shading, if approaching realism was the goal. It’s pretty much absent or “wrong”, as is the contrast in the overall image.

A pixel art depiction of a red apple with a green leaf next to a yellow banana with blue spots, both set against a two-toned background.