Step 1: Open up a stock image in Photoshop of any size and/or format. The best results for this tutorial usually involve images with a high resolution and lots of bright colors.  Once you have done this, select Layer > Duplicate Layer from the main menu to create a duplicate layer on top of your base photograph.

Step 2: Using your mouse, select the top/duplicated layer in the layers palette and set the blending mode to Overlay. 

Step 3: With the top layer still active, load up the cutout filter via Filter > Artistic > Cutout, and enter in the settings on the left.  When finished, press OK.
 

Step 4: Select the bottom/background layer using the layers palette, and run Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur with a radius of 4.2 pixels.  You can vary this value to taste if needed.  Press OK when you are finished.

Results: And its really that simple!  You should now be graced with an image that looks as if it has been painted using traditional techniques.  Of course, this technique is no substitute for the skills of a trained artist, but for under one minutes work, the effect is still pretty darned good!

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this technique is really neat. I'd like to try it now~

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