Or one could start with a photo of a rough surface to create a random and rich texture. Then copy it and play around with it inm PS ;) (for example texturize it: Filter->Texturizer ). Many trixxs ... little time... ;) Im not a native English speaker... but not lysdectic either .... lol

If you didn't already know it, Renderosity has a whole bunch of tutorials at http://www.renderosity.com/tut.ez?Form.ViewPages=919 When you are there, click the link "Fire text", then you will see this text: "First open a new document, 500 x 500 pixels with a black background, then you type what you want to for example "I like pie" then rasterize the text layer, then open up the Hue and saturation box, (ctrl u, or Open apple u) Click the Colorize box and then change the Hue to 38, and the Saturation to 60, then adjust the lightness until the words look orange. Now duplicate the layer, go to the first layer and smudge it to how ever you like it and then go to the copyed layer. On the copyed layer go to the blending options and choose either Color Dodge. Now you should have ...."

I wish I could help you here... Good luck with the interview. Stefan

Sounds great if I can recreate own photos like that... getting perfect proportions from the very start. Yep, i will buy a graphics tablet as soon as i get the money. (I wish i get some paid commissions soon... ;)

Sounds great, Bone!
Really appreciate the reply.
I think I can get all these programs for free.
(Sometimes I am thinking that Photoshop does not have an enough number of filters, but i believe it is possible to import more filters to PS....somewhere... )
/Stefan

Attached Link: http://www.imagicarts.com

I am still a beginner when it comes to digital art, so you may want to take my comments with a grain of salt (or what you call it in English ;) I think that the dress is the weakest part. Frequently using oil colors i spontaneously believe that the surface, the texture of the dress could be roughened a bit (quite a lot, actually). I would have constructed a certain texture for the dress (in the "Filters" section), instead of starting with one color. And the folds look too straight and even to me. (Ok, you already knew that.) I wouldn't mind adding a more dramatic shadow; perhaps giving a quite heavy shadow to one side of the character. Finally, I'd add a darker background, or a background with an uneven structure. Hopefully the artificial and watery look would not be there after those adjustments. .. .. .. Oh well, it is easy to talk the talk without having to walk the walk. I am just a beginner.