Learn how to emulate PS with GIMP. It is possible. Ok, I used to Gimp and loved it. Bit more of a learning curve and some of the techniques you would normally use in PS are kinda hard to figure out and must be done manually, HOWEVER - you can make amazing things with the displacement mapping in GIMP. It's awesomesauce. Work more with displacing and get some good smudge brush settings going. Keep at it and try to emulate techniques used by those ridiculously good guys and gals out there.
