Digital artists help me join your ranks, Please!!

[Dartalis]

(questions are at the bottom.)
A bit about me.

Hi, guys im from a diferient neck of the woods. I'm an australian.
But I have some universaul questions any noob trying to get into the digital art field may have.

I wan't to become a digital artist. paint/ draw digital paintings concept sketches. (say like jason chan,whos dvd tutorials i have receantly purchased to get back to fundamentals.) Down the track i would like to be able to say iv'e worked on games movies illiustrations and sci fi shows etc.

I have a wacom 21ux tablet which is a great tool, for a digital artist or game modler/designer but i'm not completly familiar with it ither. I don't know if theres corses or specific training you can do to help with the transition to using digital media to paint. If so i can't find any yet, other then YOUTUBE videos pointing out whats in the instruction manuals. I never intended for drawing and painting to be a hoby. But with trying to learn or re learn so much thats what it might be. With my imagination and life experinces, like my time in the military.( were i was able to aguire an in depth knowledge of things such as military weapons, hardware, vechles and procedures/tactics.) or my training in 3d modling and animation i think i would have a sound base to work from.
However even tho the desire is there and i'm constantly asking myself the questions like, "what if I had..."
I have to wonder is it to late to go back to this goal after an 8 year absinse, am i aming to high and not being relistic?
At the moment i don't think so, but i know i am rusty and will need to draw draw draw like mad to get back in shape like an athlete of his game. but i can do it iam sure.

My questions

*What schools/coarses should someone wanting a career as a digital artist/concept artist be looking at?
*What moduals/fundamentals should the cover?
*Do any of these places offer there training with a modual looking at using tools like my wacom tablet?
*Are there any other questions I should be asking myself or others while trying to learn about a career in digital art?
*What schools/training did you find were the most helpful for you achieving your own career goals?

Any and all help you can give me is greatly appreciated.

i will be posting some of my work for critque on here and deviant art soon.

[Meloncov]

Your getting far too worked up about the divide between digital and traditional art. If you can paint traditionally, withe very little practice you will be able to paint digitally just as well.

[Dartalis]

Your getting far too worked up about the divide between digital and traditional art. If you can paint traditionally, withe very little practice you will be able to paint digitally just as well.

thanks for the reply meloncov. I think your right for the most part i should probably not look at trying to be a digital artist rather an artist who's job prodominately has him using a digital workflow.

I am more then a little rusty. And have been going through the practice makes perfect phase sketching like mad. I'm now thinking i should re-aproach everything from scratch, as if ive never picked up a pencil or brush before. Ive been considering the idea of art schools. were maybe smaller coarses to revisit the fundamentals through things like life drawing etc.

Problem is wether i look at moving towards a bfa to mfa or what ever the hiriachy is after highschool, i still dont know what coarses, subjects or art education history an artist wanting to work freelance or within a company were. concept art, illustrations and scean backgrounds etc, are used for film, t.v games or movies.
Is there more then just a strong portfolio required? Even tho the reason I'm wanting to further my education is to create a strong versatile portfolio.
I quess i just want help to move in the right direction towards my goals and not waste any more time or money heading in the wrong direction.
(God i hope that makes sence.)