step 1

layer 1: (layer>new>layer)
Fill the background with a soft orange. Lateron, the color will be covered, but this is a
good color to see the effect of the leaves.
layer 2: (layer>new>layer)
Click on the brush tool, open the different brushes window and select "scattered leaves".
Use different sizes and different colors.
Make a new layer for every color.

step 2
Here I used part of a fan and lowered the opacity a bit to make it softer.
(70%)
Place it between the background layer and the leaves, so it won't cover the leaves.
step 3
Look for a nice Asian looking background and place it between the orange background
and the fan.
step 4
Remove the background of the portrait.
Place the girl layer just below the fan layer.

step 5
Use parts of the background and fan to make her dress look more Asian.

step 6
Remove the line above the eyes with a soft brush on low opacity. Change the color of the
skin:
layer>new adjustment layer>color balance
layer>new adjustment layer>saturation
step 7
Here it still looks like a photo. Now we are going to try some filters and blending modes
to make it look like a painting.
step 8
Flatten the image:
layer>flatten image
Now you can use filters (if you don't flatten it, the filter will only work on the layer that is
highlighted at that moment)
filter>sketch>photocopy
filter>sketch>waterpaper
step 9
Here you can see the steps of the filters, blending modes and opacity.
background: photo of the girl
background copy: photocopy filter on 60%
background copy 2: waterpaper filter
Both on blending mode "soft light" (you can set this in the layer window)
step 10
All we need now is a texture to put over the photo.
step 11
Flatten the image.
Put the texture layer over the photo.
Set the blending mode to multiply (if you use another texture you might have to use
another blending mode, it's always good to try them all) and lower the opacity to 70%.

step 12
Finished.