You definitely do not need to be an artist to draw many styles of map, including a sattelite style. If you want to draw a map (like Djspeck) which has a lot of beautifully crafted handmade elements (usually these maps are perspective view maps), then yes, you'll need artsy skills. Other than that I can't really add to the good advice you've already been given. Best of luck!

when it comes down to the bare bones of it almost everyone started their map with difference clouds and a threshold adjustment layer.
Ah so true!!!