Need help matching a painting to real life pics

[Alex DePew]

I have turned this....
http://lasvocesdelosangeles.com/arteangeles/art37.jpg

into this...
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/166/isabelleandmichaelcherutd3.jpg

While I am ok with it so far, I have spent way too many hours fiddling with curves, hue and saturation and color mixer to try and match the painting's skin tone and still be dissapointed. The images don't match to a degree I am happy with. I am sure someone who knows what they are doing could do a much better job, in significantly less time. So how would you tackle this project? Comments, criticism, holiday cheer are all welcome!

A tremendous thank you to anyone willing to help out!

Here are the original images I used for the boy and girl.
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/4013/girlandboyoriginalpicskk3.jpg

[mikkowilson]

Colors are pretty good, maybe a little less Red for both, especially the boy's face is too pink.
Also maybe drop the saturation a little on both too. So that they are both still as sepia~ish, but with less of the other colors.

Trying bluring both images somewhat, they look too sharp compared to the painting.

Also, blur the edges between the layers.

- Mikko

[Alex DePew]

I'll give that a shot. I see what you're saying about the pics being too sharp.

Thanks Mikko

Happy holidays.

[Michael Carter]

I wouldn't blur it - dupe the layers so you don't nuke anything while you play, and try this:

filters - noise - median

Play with the pixel value of median; it can give a real brushtroked look.

After you run the median filter, try an unsharp maks with a fairly wide pixel radius.

You can also try running the median filter on a layer; dupe that layer and run an unsharp mask; then add some gaussian blur to that layer. Add a layer mask, and with a stylus pad, use a soft edged painting and try painting black on the mask where you want more detail, you'll see the detail in the layer below come through.

One of the best ways to do this is to place a layer over the photo and actually re-paint with a stylus pad.

The very BEST way? Do all of the above. Have an iris (giclee) print made on canvas. get some oils and paint over it, building up translucent layers.

I'll try attaching some examples - one is from a photo shoot, with the final image after, and also one of my faves - keep in mind, all of the "afters" are painted over on canvas. Best of luck.