Absolute beginner

[AbsNewbie]

I recently read this thread through a Computer programming forum
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=870

I was really impressed with the work that this member did and the huge improvements he showed by practicing.

I am now interested in learning how to draw primarily digitally.
I am a programmer by trade so I have good computer knowledge.

My previous experience
I can draw mostly 2-D shapes on paper with a pencil.
I tried coloring as a kid(primarily water colors) but was not good at it. So I stuck to a pencil and paper.
I have not drawn in 8-10 years, since I got out of school.

Here is what I would like to do
1. Learn to draw basic shapes/shades digitally.
2. Learn to fill in colors in my drawings.

I searched on this forum and did not find any tutorial which was suited for an absolute beginner like me, something that said
Step1. Hold the pencil this way



The software/hardware requirements that I found out while searching and reading on this forum
1. Wacom tablet
2. Painter/Photoshop/Illustrator

My questions
Are there any tutorials out there that are suited for an absolute newbie like me?
Something that will start with
Start painter, Click here, make this figure, etc.

[Xeon_OND]

Go to amazon and type in "Drawing with the right side of your brain" and "Keys to drawing".

[Smashed_Pumpkin]

By the sounds of it you're at that glorious stage of self exploration. You've said you have found the tools for learning digital art so get hold of them and start trying things out. The time you spend looking for a tutorial for an absolute beginner could be spent getting yourself past that title.

The drawing software you've mentioned are "easy to pick-up, difficult to master", so I'm sure you wont have trouble getting the hang of how they work. And after that it's just a matter of doodling for a while to get a feel for it. You'll want to adjust to the feel of a tablet with the way you're not looking at your hand as you draw.

Once you have played around for a while, then start looking for tutorials to push you forward. Imagine yourself as a child, you would play with building blocks before reading a thesis on physics.

[Purrdey]

I found this on here - it really is brilliant and well worth the money!
http://www.drawingtutorialsonline.com/

[Armonah]

Before you start off, you might want to read this first:
http://rahll.deviantart.com/journal/20644895/
It´s a journal entry from Reid Southen, a very knowledgeable and skilled digital artist who frequently gets asked how to get as good at digital painting as he is. Basically, it deals exactly with the question you're asking here.

As for learning to draw with a tablet, at the beginning you'll notice that the hand-eye coördination work a lot different than it does with a pencil and paper (at least, that was the case for me). You can already start off getting used to a tablet by using it to replace the mouse: use it to play games, surf the net and use other applications.

I don't have any tutorials, sorry. But for the most part it's about practise, anyway.