I think you've already figured out one of the greatest lessons for art and as you mentioned pretty much anything that's complicated or takes a lot of skill. Break the big problem up into smaller more manageable problems.
Also you're right, (at least I think you are) I think no matter how good you get, it's always a struggle. I know some artists that I can say it would be difficult to call them anything but masters, and they still say they struggle with each piece. I think the thing is that as you get better, your expectations of yourself also go up, so it's never ending really.
So I say, have fun, enjoy the process, similar to what you said, just have fun solving the puzzle :)
Exactly, couldn't agree more! I Especially like your statement about expectations escalating as you get better, so true. It really is an endless cycle, and that's just another reason I love it so much - no limit to how good you can get, always room for improvement. Also something I probably should have added in the post is that when you finally solve the puzzle, it's one of the most rewarding feelings ever. The tougher the struggle, the greater the reward in my opinion :)