hi! i don’t get questions like this very often, i’m glad you’re asking them :D
i’m self taught. you have to have a passion for drawing and a willingness to learn :) so looking at others’ art has always helped me the most, to see what direction i want to go and what techniques others have used. i learned to draw klaine just by observing the characters and transmitting their features to my style (which usually just involves a lot of simplifying and exaggerating). so really, one of the best ways to learn is just by observing. patience with yourself is important, too.
the materials i use most are photoshop and my tablet. specifically, i use photoshop cs2 and an Intuous3 tablet. i used a normal wacom bamboo tablet for a few years before it broke, and i was quite happy with it.
don’t freak out! if you have a passion for art, you’ll do great. just be patient with yourself and be willing to learn. that’s the best advice i can give you.