I agree, I'm gradualling getting to the point where I want to have mroe control over the appearance of the end product. Dictate the balance between, modelling, displacing and texturing.
I'm getting there slowly, I feel my modelling skills are eveloving and each project brings a new challenge even if it is a previous project being retouch because my depth of knowledge has increased enough to understand how to achieve the end goal in mind. Was going to say realism but I should say surrealism because some of the renders and animations that I admire are so beautifully textured and rendered their surreal.
'Go beyond realism' no one would complain if they could equal D'Ali in 3D . you make a lot of sense. thank you