RedYager - so you want to be a level artist or env artist ?
stop bitching bro and start working, if you are going to be a lvl art, open up Sandbox / UDK / source and WORK WORK WORK, show your WIP here and get feedback, i very often see WIP that are looking great, much better then some of the finished work
and if you want to be env art, work in a 3dpackage and zbrush, and WORK WORK WORK, post wip / finish work and get feedback, theories are very important, but practice makes perfect !
good luck