I bet with the proper resources you'd reach/surpass my level of skill way faster than you think. ^_^ Try out these two tutorials, as they helped with my painterly CG technique.
Hair
[link] Spicy Curry Brush
[link] The rest is just a matter of patience and practise. ^_^
Also, if you have any specific questions about how i do things, feel free to ask. I'll do my best to explain things. *nods*