brian,
i like the warping. but i'm a bit at odds with the difference between 'cartoony' and 'painting'. painting sort of implies an oil look (when nothing else is specified) and cartoon sort of implies a more monotone look, especially in skin tones and hair. so if you're going for cartoon, then i'd expect to see more of a monotone or nearly so. but if you're going for a painted look, like an oil painting caricature, then i'd expect more of that. currently, i think you're not quite an oil and not quite a cartoon.
on the other hand, if what you have is what you want, then that's good too
craig