You should just study painting... best way to learn is by doing. You can then study textures like the ones you linked and try to replicate them, or study something real and try to stylize it, simplify and exaggerate its features.
There are like a billion threads of people trying to learn this style and succeeding over in P&P, you could check out those. In general, though, "hand painted" means you should practice painting. That's my take!
Replies
:P
[edit] okay, trying to not only be an ass :
http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/art_tut.htm
You should just study painting... best way to learn is by doing. You can then study textures like the ones you linked and try to replicate them, or study something real and try to stylize it, simplify and exaggerate its features.
There are like a billion threads of people trying to learn this style and succeeding over in P&P, you could check out those. In general, though, "hand painted" means you should practice painting. That's my take!
So here's another little page I've always loved.
http://www.anticz.com/drawing1.htm
Painting cartoony like tf2 textures?
I think what rooster is specifically looking for is lots of "The Onion" step by step examples. Can never get enough of those.
http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=65614