Wow, that must have been a while back at this stage. I think I'm one of the younger ones now at 17. I've just been at PC about a year though, so I've got a while ahead of me XD
What I mean is that, of course a good graphic artist can work with anything, but would they want to? I mean, I wouldn't like to work with cartoon stocks for example (can't think of a good enough example XD;). I wish I could vector, though I've never tried.
Well, I think you should try some day, if you gat back into full activity *nods*
So so many, I'm actually working on a thread right now that explains it all, that explains all the terms as well as a few mini tutorials thrown in, along with a large resource of links to brushes, stocks, tutorials, graphics communities etc. I'm just going to be making a big thread that has everything an artist needs to get better. Hopefully. Well, I'm going to sound like a paradox when I say this but; if you want to be a good artist, don't think about rules, think about making good composition. I mean, people worry about those rules of course, but they shouldn't be something to hold you back, they should become second nature. You can make eyecandy without worrying about them :]
When you're making a flatter style, brushes are good though I guess, so I cam't blame you. I think I'm going to get illustrator to help me with some effects, well, pen tool like effects at least n__n