User blog comment:Sam the Rabbit/I need advice/@comment-26474231-20130405080700

I'd have to agree with both Hynoid and Korey. (i've used them all xD)

Gimp I personally think it's harder to get use too. (I used photoshop before gimp xD) I've barely used it so I have no clue what it can do. (I just keep getting told it's exactly like photoshop -.o)

Paint.net is no different from the normal paint program except with layers and cleaner art so this is a good choice.

Photoshop is the most suggested from almost every digital artist, I don't think you have a tablet however so I wouldn't go to photoshop straight away xD (unless you learn how to use the pen tool then you should be fine). If you learn most of what photoshop does, you can do quite alot of things with it xD.

SAI is pretty good for just drawing/painting in general. Photoshop has alot of features and brushes, but SAI is easy to use and you can sometimes get good results alot quicker than in Photoshop.

I've used the three programs (exluding GIMP) since I was about 9-10 years old (mind you thats for around 5-7 years xD). It's why I agree with the others. So I suggest the same :)