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This was done in 3-4 hrs over a photo. Funnily enough the result looks a bit like some paintings by my father (http://www.adolf-kempken.de/Web_Adolf/Landschaften.html). This is just one part of a looong panning BG, on which a longer conversation during a walk takes place.

I'm quite happy with how the trees in the distance turn out, it's good enough to mimick out-of-focus (or "bokeh" as this effect is called nowadays). The uploaded file is in original size so you can see the brush strokes.

Mhm.

For me it looks too much like a photo to which a Photoshop-Paint Effects-Filter was applied. Sorry.
(I think it is better not to paint over a photo-layer. Why not to take memory or some sketches as a base ? )

Memory wouldn't suffice, the colours and lights are too subtle. And I need it to be "realistic" for this scene.

Looks totally like a photo filtered by Photoshop Plugins.
I agree with Klaus. Why not to copy the photo by hand and color it in Photoshop or TVPaint using your own palette or even the photo palette??