Non-aff link http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dap...
To learn to draw, Mark Kistler's Draw squad isn't a horrible thing to get you going and to start to look at shadows, etc (however is aimed at children).
As far as tools, trying out the following are good: http://www.pixelmator.com/learn/ (Scroll to bottom of the page)
http://qrayg.com/learn/fireworks/
visual photoshop: http://www.noupe.com/tutorial/30-useful-abstract-photoshop-d...
And while I think the actual lessons are sorta ugly they're not bad on tool usage fundamentals: http://www.pvmgarage.com/2010/11/top-ten-photoshop-website-d...
Non-aff link http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dap...
To learn to draw, Mark Kistler's Draw squad isn't a horrible thing to get you going and to start to look at shadows, etc (however is aimed at children).
As far as tools, trying out the following are good: http://www.pixelmator.com/learn/ (Scroll to bottom of the page)
http://qrayg.com/learn/fireworks/
visual photoshop: http://www.noupe.com/tutorial/30-useful-abstract-photoshop-d...
And while I think the actual lessons are sorta ugly they're not bad on tool usage fundamentals: http://www.pvmgarage.com/2010/11/top-ten-photoshop-website-d...