An excellent idea. Perhaps combined with the look away detection mentioned in the article, such that the painting only tracks you when you aren't looking directly at it. Reminiscent of many a horror movie.
Unless I'm mistaken, the way for a painting to actually look at you is unfortunately just to have the pupils dead ahead. Perspective on the painting then does the rest. Otherwise this would never even have been a cliche to riff on.
Freaky.