The enclosed 5x7 was scanned with a flatbed scanner at a resolution of 300. Using Photoshop CS2 with a plethora of filters (including Portraiture, Akvis, etc.). Was it scanned at too high a resolution? What can I do to reduce the "grainy" appearance and end up with a nice watercolor or oil portrait? Any help greatly appreciated.

Well first you maybe should have posted this in the photart section you would get more response there. Maybe Craig will move it. (hint Craig)

To remove the graininess you could use neat image, to make it look like a water colour try the impressionist plugin (PC only).

300 dpi is not bad to scan at for the effects you asked about, but if your interested in a retouch you could scan higher.

Peter

Peter...thanx for the reply and that is a very nice job. Would you share what you did to get that result? I was going to post this in popart but didn't see any others looking for assistance. Any particular section that I should post this in (assuming Craig doesn't move it. Thanks again.

Xero filters, Impressionist, Paint Engine, and some creative application of GIMP's Neon Edge Detect and a Texturizer Script-fu (for the paper texture) all blended together. May be a little eclectic for some, but a watercolor it is. :)

A really quick one...

A quick watercolor

a ahb version

Palms

Here's an oil interpretation using the impressionist plugin.
Alan

Thank you, everyone for your responses and a special thanks to those who included a tutorial. I'll just keep on tryin' to improve my techniques (actually, yours). Thanks ever so much and Merry Christmas everyone. After 70 Christmas seasons, my tongue slips off its rollers when I tender the more generic greetings.

Here is another manipulation in Photoshop finished with the Impressionist plug in.