Making This Effect with Gimp

I've been looking for pokemon desktops like that for a couple of days now. I've found just about all that I can like that, but not all the Poke's I want. How can I accomplish this effect?
(For the record, I do use Google before asking)Moderator Edit:
fixed image.

You haven't linked the image...

He linked it, it's just not showing up normally.http://www.imgbase.info/images/safe-wallpapers/anime/pokemon/12314_pokemon.jpg

It's not showing up normally because the hosted site forbids hotlinking. I uploaded it to imageshack and posted a thumbnail link.

so is it possible to just take any image and modify it to look like that, or did the people who made those backgrounds actually have to draw the poke's on the computer?

I had a thought and tried it out, but it didn't work how I wanted it. If anyone has any ideas, please help!

i found out that it is made using an effect called "Fractalius". unfortunately, I don't have the money to buy all the things I need just to be able to use Fractalius. if anyone has luck making that effect in GIMP, please help! right now I'm using the b&w sketch G'MIC filter, and it looks good, but it's just not 100% of what I'd like