After classical art training, I thought pixel art would be fast and easy -- the low resolution would disguise any mistakes.

Quite the opposite. The fewer pixels, the more each one has to be perfectly in place. Honestly should've been obvious in hindsight. If I have any games left in me after my current one's finished, I'll just use as high a resolution as I'm comfortable with.

Unless the sprites are truly tiny, like 16x16 with 2 or 3 frame animations, I don't know if pixel art makes a good shortcut to an aesthetically appealing game. Then again, it might be easier than six years of every day practice.

If you want to see someone who has truly done wonders with pixel art - the game Look Outside has so much incredible (and disturbing) pixel art.