Fractal art is by nature complex, and sometimes it can be a bit much. Intricate, often recursive, potentially infinite complexity can strain the eyes and the pattern recognition centers in the brain (usually in a good way, though). Recently I've been really focusing on color and texture with the goal in mind of stating things more subtly - working towards impression, atmosphere, accented just enough to draw the eye where I want it. In doing so I feel like I'm finding my "voice" as an artist, and conveying ideas and concepts more clearly as well, although that may not be obvious to the viewer. I tend to like art that works on the subconscious as well as the conscious. 

As I continued this process, refining it with each new piece, I found I was able to express more depth - hidden dimensions in the layers. Desaturated tones take on a watercolor feel, and relatively minor increases in saturation bring certain areas into focus without needing to be obvious about it. It's a bit like making music in the sense that if every track in a song is maxed out and compressed, there's no room to breathe. Aggressive, high-contrast, intense color palettes grab attention, but also cause fatigue when dealing with the intricate forms inherent to fractals.

With this approach a wider color range can still be used without being "too much". I adjust the saturation and brightness of each hue to complement one another, and to provide emphasis in certain sections of the image.

Outpost is, to me, one of my finest works in this vein. It may seem abstract, but to me it's an expression of concept, with associated mood and atmosphere. I'm trying to express a thing in space, time, and mind. Hopefully you can see it as well.