Now what

[wmchauncey]

I got into photography at the ripe old age of 62, wanting to be an artist, I mean how hard can it be...right.
Anyway, I'm now not a neophyte at photography, having accomplished learning all the basics of the hobby and being relatively accomplished at Photoshop.
However, when it comes to determining how the end product should appear, that vision of turning a good photograph into an object d'art, seems to be completely beyond me. 
My technique of fumbling around, trying this "look" or that "look", like the proverbial blind squirrel searching for the acorn, is becoming quite tedious at best.
It would make more sense to have that end "look" in mind before one started the Photoshop work...which leads me to my question.

Is there an educational source of some kind to teach the best way to PP a given image for that object d'art "look".

BTW, I have no style...am totally eclectic in my genre, except that I don't do people.  Appreciate any responses.

[Peter Stacey]

Since the literal meaning is art object or work of art, trying to give a meaningful, paint-by-numbers (for want of a better term) answer is going to be difficult without understanding what that means to you (and even then is going to be difficult.

For an overall instruction series on capturing quality input through to achieving high quality output, I would recommend the Camera to Print and Screen videos available here. Michael and Jeff did a fine job with that series.

However, if you mean something different, such as how to achieve a specific look, then more explanation may be needed first.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... Is there an educational source of some kind to teach the best way to PP a given image for that object d'art "look"...

Yes, there is. It is known as the "10,000 hours rule."

[NancyP]

Spend time looking at other people's photos, masterpiece, mildly interesting, meh! What do you like? hate? find boring?

[wmchauncey]

My current project is this GBH that has a ton of detail and I'm thinking that simply slight desaturation of the yellows and greens>
darkening background>lighting @ contrasting the front part of the bird just isn't enough.  It deserves better???  What say you?

[louoates]

Very nice GWH but too much competing green color around it. I'd darken and de-saturate the green as it detracts from the more delicate blues. Might even blur the leaves somewhat -- note the soft focus top right side. The water is perfect--wouldn't lessen that saturation at all, especially yellows. Maybe a bit of image cropping left, less cropping top. No cropping of bottom to keep those nice leg reflections.