These are images pulled from DA, one I think came from google.
My first step was making scenery fun to create. I feel the best way to learn is by having fun. I never learned to type better through those stupid classes but my typing did get better after one year of Ultima Online.

I'm actually using the ink pen tool in Sai. It's the most pressure sensitive of the tools and allows for a lot of flexibility. I worked on getting the general impression of the landscape and though I think they look like crappy paint by numbers, I think it might be working.