Go out to your bookstore and start buying (or better yet, get a subscription to) ImagineFX Magazine.

This is everything you're asking and a whole lot more. Clothing, different material surfacing, hair, skin textures and creating realistic (or painterly - depends on the Q&A articles) blemishes, as well as architecture, vehicles, creatures, mood and atmo, etc.

Each issue also comes with a CD/DVD that will have support files and video tutorials as well.

And no, I don't own stock in the company - just love this magazine - it's quickly becoming my favorite, which I didn't think could happen while I'm getting 3D World and American Cinematographer as well.

Hope this helps-
-Lew ;-)