First of all thank you for reading!

I can say that it is not hard to do , but it isn't easy either. Freehand drawing skill is not that important, although it is useful. The first sketch which was replaced with the photo in this painting doesn't have to be precise but rather a good foundation for the composition of the painting. The thing I find easier to do with the computer is color blending. When you paint by hand you have one chance (maybe two) to hit a shade you want, whereas when using computer you have unlimited number of undos. But it's not the only thing computer does. Cloner brushes in painter can actually "read" color from the background and apply it on the foreground thus hitting the shade perfectly.

I don't have a formal art education, but I can say that my life revolved around art from my birth. My father was a brilliant art student, but he had to leave the academy because he was drafted for the war when he was young.. He taught me a thing or two when I was a child. I have a few paintings I made when I was high school, and those are remakes of Van Gogh's paintings and they look pretty good, but since art in my country is hugely unappreciated (as well as any other thing of cultural value) I decided to pursue career in computer science. "It's better to be an average engineer than a starving artist", I thought, but soon after getting into university I had to find a way to express myself so I tried writing (but that felt like talking to myself) so I decided that I will learn about art as much as I can while continuing my studies..

I'm glad you are willing to try to do it and I'm sure that with enough time anyone can make a good painting on both canvas and computer. Be sure to mention me if you make a post about your progress if you venture that way!