artistic license

i've been experimenting with different styles of editing of pictures i've taken.  these are of a couple of roses that had withered on some bushes out front.  i didn't even know they were still there - i was only seeing the rose hips... and then one day i saw a flash of red and to my surprise there were these tiny little, not quite there roses still hanging on for dear life.

after i processed the photos, they looked pretty ragged.  but once i started playing around, i thought maybe i could get them to looking like a painting or something... a bit creative - artistic, artsy-fartsy, you know?  i figure it's my playground, or canvas, i can do whatever i want.  i also want to share it - what do you think?

happy day.....