My icon creating adventure begins...

So I got this nifty intuos tablet for christmas, and I've been somewhat adept at photoshop for a while now. I've been map editing in wc3 for a long time, and I figured its about time that I learn how to create realistic wc3 icons. So I started off by making these two icons. Let me know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong.

Also, I've read a lot about the debate between smudge and brush blending. I've seen a lot of great photoshop painting tutorials (as in, portraits etc, not just wc3 stuff) that use smudge and look great. Brush blending seems to take foreverrrrrr to achieve even a moderate amount of blending, and I just don't have the patience for it. I like the stylized look it creates, but I don't think its worth all the time.

So anyways, here they are. Tell me what I can improve:
(Note: the first icon is supposed to be green boils on skin)

wow I thought the art section would have more activity than this. this is disappointing.

nah the skinning section is dying.

the whole thing about smudge versus brush editing is the scale. most of those paintings are done on very large scales while most wc3 art is done at 512x512 and smudge looks like shit at that level. it causes the image to look hazy.(but most people agree theres nothing wrong with a little smudge.)

now onto your work, there is definately something wrong with the edges on your gem, and the top glare on the rock is off a little bit. The other one looks like skin every were except around the main boil were it looks ethereal the way the blob is sitting there. and the light source on the skin and the boil is different.

other than that they look pretty good.

That gem mainly looks too soft, use harder contrast and harder edges.

And those boils look more like bugs on skin. maybe you need to blend those more.

Never in my life have I seen something made with smudge that looks good, even by professionals (though they rarely use it). I don't know how some people think it looks good, it's mostly a matter of perspective. But I'm telling you, if you want to succeed just drop it and blend properly.
And using smudge if you have a tablet is the ultimate sin. I understand that some people that paint with a mouse have a higher tendency to be corrupted by smudge, but you with an INTUOS tablet? Really, it's like an insult, it's a perversion waaaaagh stop me until I burst....

To conclude this, blending properly it's one of those things you just have to do to survive. Trust me.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm going to try and make another from scratch, but I have a quick question. What size and resolution do you guys work with to draw the icon? I drew these right on the 64x64 icon, which led to a lot of the lack of detail and blurriness.

I make them at 512x512. It's cool 'cause you can be as messy as you want for when you shrink it down it all blends in nicely.

I'd do it with 256x256, reduce the picture and then add borders.

EDIT: DAmn TDR!!! you won me :P