Okay, I can do that.

Just to clarify and verify that I get it, when you say as start simple as possible when constructing it's almost as if you want to first define an initial convex bounding shape of what the object is you're attempting to draw and then recursively create more shapes that bound the complex regions and eventually adding more detail and textures based on top of those shapes. Which is basically what you state on the complex leaf structure note just with the additional steps/information based on it being about a leaf.

On the topic of starting simply as possible what would be a good heuristic to use when deciding what the initial bound shape should be? I guess I am asking when does a shape need to be become two shapes or more and what should it look like? Like in the leaf/branch I drew in the top left if I had a another branch coming off the same initial starting point with similar branching leaves would the initial shape be something constrains both branches or would each branch get their own? Is the heuristic simply pain and experience?

Also, I'll try to be more conscious of zig-zagging as I think what have been doing is not really thinking about building on top or cutting from the form I've placed and instead just thinking of it as a "guide" causing any sense of 3D/volume to fall flat simply because the lines stop have a sense of form and just become 2D lines.

I realize I am almost parroting what you've already said in many different forms of media as well as maybe asking questions that you've already answered and for that I apologize and I also want to apologize for potentially being one of those students that takes up more of your reviewing time than most.