Koosie, I think sketchup may work fine... and as for other 3D programs, well, I see every new project as an opportunity to learn something new...

Dvlenk, about the renderer... I have to admit I don't have my heart set on a single one just yet. Sometimes it's Max, sometimes it's cararra, sometimes bryce, sometimes Poser. Just depends on my mood, what I'm making and what computer I happen to be sitting at. And what the renderer doesn't do... I'm relatively handy in photoshop.

Patorak, I like your Idea of Moulin Rouge and Touluse Lautrec era. I think that falls into the era I was contemplating. Some water, either around Sienne, or Venice or Amsterdam looking canals always seem interesting. 

Sometimes I think about paintings like those of Victor Schvaiko http://www.renjeau.com/cgi-bin/imagepage.pl?84
Other times I get all excited about little portofino looking coastal villages like this: http://www.ibrewster.com/gallery/ssampark/Harbor_at_Portofino 

And then there's Thomas Kinkade: http://www.piersidegallery.com/artists/kinkade/   and Sam Park: http://www.piersidegallery.com/artists/park/ 

Perhaps you guys have some idea links you wanna share? 

Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!"  Whaz yurs?
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