I started out just having fun a couple weeks ago. I sculpted the upper torso and head from one sphere. Then painted. Rendered in SSS and then in a few times of Chrome mat's... added lower torso and arms as separate objects. Then brought all into Photoshop to combine the renders and add the backdrop.
Since I don't have Maya... I unfortunately had to do the hair by hand in Photoshop... so it's just 2D hair.