I think they are both fantastic. However if I was nitpicking I would say:
- I think it is intentional, however as you have blurred the background separately to the subjects, and to me I can see artifacts in the background (looks like a super-hi-compressed jpeg), it looks a bit too artificial. As though the subjects were actually transplanted into the photos.
- The portrait above the easle (in colour) tends to detract from the subjects you are focusing on. My eyes just keep getting drawn up to that top portrait.
Lastly, and this is being super-nitpicky. The painting-in-progress has two people in it, man and woman, where is the woman? Also, the man in the painting doesn't really resemble the man being painted. But that is being as picky as I possibly can.
Great work, however, excellent idea!