Hey there, we've got some tutorials that should get you started off nicely. This is one tutorial I wrote long ago:
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/foru...-tutorial.html
Be sure to check out some of the skinning related tutorials as well, things such as adding markings, making fabric or metal effects, and of course weathering. All of those apply to profiling just as well as skin making.
Happy painting!