1. Studio Artist helps you achieve effects that you could never get with photoshop
Check out the stills by Bernard Bunner.
2. Painter I used to work at a network TV station with an artist who used Painter, and never
touched photoshop.
Through the years, Photoshop ripped off Painter - helping itself to features like layers.
Sadly, Painter was sold to Corel. But remains a viable program.
Photoshop alternative advice