Takes longer on your work. 15 minutes is bad, spending more time allows you to get more quality from it. Smudging is an old technique, try to step it up. Don't make it do bland and boring. I'd still have to say that you really, really should take much more time on your work.
I don't think I know you, but when one persons says something, then another person disputes, then the first person disputes that... it tends to lead to an argument. And I really don't want to have an argument in the Graphics Section... so yeah.