I've been learning smudge painting and im wondering if my work is good enough to do this professionally.
Also im wondering how to go about selling my work e.g. contacting photographers or selling painting from snapshots on somewhere like ebay.
I would really appreciate any advice and opinions on this one.
examples.
http://bp1.blogger.com/_OvfnNJbBxq4/R9KDCbJoiNI/AAAAAAAAACE/Rx-jk4-CwRo/s1600-h/girl-ocoppy.jpg
http://bp1.blogger.com/_OvfnNJbBxq4/R9KB9bJoiMI/AAAAAAAAAB8/px4DAS2MfSo/s1600-h/IMG_8294paintedpreview_copy.jpg
http://bp1.blogger.com/_OvfnNJbBxq4/R9FZQrJoiKI/AAAAAAAAABs/sa3spQmxEig/s1600-h/painting+copy.jpg

Amy, i find your work a little too soft focus in the facial details. Also, sample #2 you've smudged everything except the right side (ear and pony tail). Was there a reason for that?

I do feel your work has a personality about it. Swampy made some good points but remember too, being different is a plus sometimes so do make the style your self. I would like to see your originals to have some idea where you were coming from .
Remember, Even in the hardest years as an ad photographer my peers who were shooting dogs and children continued to make great money.
c

Thanks for taking the time to comment guys.
Swampy: I completely agree about the soft focus comment that thought has crossed my mind too. I haven't been sharpening after smudging i will do that from now on.
I don't think i would have missed the ear and ponytail completly as i smudge on a new layer but i can see now that you pointed it out they are sharper than the rest of the image thanks for pointing that out to me.
Sweetlight: Thanks for the kind words i know that this kind of thing doesn't appeal to everyone but hopefully there will people out there that like this kind of thing.

Links to original photos
http://bp2.blogger.com/_OvfnNJbBxq4/R9FY17JoiHI/AAAAAAAAABU/pJJZazmLBjU/s1600-h/1to3.jpg (image no 1)
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=51982&d=1194306001

Amie, BTW, Welcome to Retouch Pro. :-) I don't know that you need to lose the soft focus on things like hair, shoulders etc. but it's all about the eyes and mouth because that it were the expression takes place.