maxmsp noob looking for help with 2d img manipulation through node based software?

Hi Guys,

My name is matt, I am an oil painter looking to plug reference images through this software to manipulate them into slightly abstracted versions of their original form. I have some experience working with nodes in davinci resolve for color correction and luts, but thats it. I have known of max for a long time but never was a coder and found it pretty intimidating to even try to get a thorough understanding of.

That being said, I wanted to ask if you (max users) think that max is an adequate option for this kind of thing? I know that photoshop is an option, how ever i find the lack of chance when experimenting with the filters to be quite dull. If it will take me an entire year to figure something like this also please do let me know lol.

thanks very much for reading/ any help given in advance

m