Hi Amie...
Welcome to RetouchPRO. Glad you found us. The pic of your little boy is a treasure.
Disclaimer: There are many (and I do mean
many) who are much,
much better at smudge painting than I, so take the following with a grain of salt.
If the point of a photo-painting -- regardless of style -- is for the final result "to look painted," then one needs to take steps to make the final piece "not look like a photo." That generally means more contrast, less detail and bolder colors.
Many who are new at smudge painting trace image edges and barely smear other areas, which is a good beginning, but IMO isn't enough to achieve a convincing "painted look."
I offer this example to illustrate my point in terms of color and detail (less around the edges),
not great smudging detail technique.
Tell you the truth I prefer a BW interpretation, but that's just me.
Smudging is a very popular and appealing look. Keep working on your technique. You'll get nothing but better.