Not to necro post (missed anything in the rules/FAQ about how far back one can resurrect a post), but I'd love to know more about your creation process for your 08 style, or how you would incorporate more detail to your leaves (or highlight) in your 09 style. Or about this blueprint post of Helms, if anyone knows where that is, especially if it's tree related.
I've been finding creating a tree at 3/4 perspective instead of flat-on somewhat difficult as well. Drew white lines at angles and circles about five units high by eight wide to try and capture the perspective properly (I just noted that's NOT 3/4, eesh). I've had to accentuate the trunk and draw branches fore and rear to try and get my brain to remember it while shading, and haven't yet been able to capture leaf clusters with light. Have started practicing drawing small leaf clusters in the hope it'll get somewhere.
Apologies if HulioG is no longer around or some such.