To create the final image, I first brought the image up in Topaz Lab's Simplify ($39). This is where I created the painterly effect. The image at this stage was much more interesting but I decided to play with it more. Next I applied a "Bleach Bypass" filter in NikSoft's ColorEfxPro. Finally, I applied a touch of "Glamour glow". While the possibilities are endless, some definitely work better than others - experiment and have fun. In the end, using the tools is an art!
This might give you the impression that if you only had all these tools you could create great images. Let me reiterate that the underlying image must still be fundamentally strong: well composed, have a good defined subject, etc.