The following examples were created with the Clone Stamp tool in Adobe Photoshop, following a technique I developed a few years ago for Russell Brown's ADIM. I've always loved working with methods and tools that are open ended. What started as a way to simulate the look and feel of old realist portraits continues to surprise me every time I go back to play with it.

The following image was used specifically in the November 2023 issue of Photoshop User magazine (KelbyOne). The stock image is from Valua Vitaly (Adobe Stock, 486869652).

The technique is relatively simple once the documents are set up properly. What you're left with is your own inspiration in the moment, expressed with a brush (or mouse) and your own movement. To me, this is more organic than playing with sliders and buttons and presets, and while it's nothing like actual painting with real world media, it's still satisfying. It's also less messy.