for context: i write, i program, i make music. those are probably enough skills to do 90% of what i want to do in life, at least creatively.
but that 10% has been really nagging at me lately - and in particular, my total lack of visual ability has been a pretty annoying limitation for a lot of what i want to do. i've been a full-stack web dev for several years, but frankly, i do vanishingly little "web design" - my designs are pretty minimalist, spartan, and unstylish - and while i do naturally gravitate to that sort of presentation, i would be lying if it was always an "artistic choice." in truth, my projects look that way because that's the only way i can make them look, and i'd like to be able to branch out from that.
also, i'd like to be an indie game dev at some point! maybe not as my primary profession, but at least as a hobby - and while there's certainly plenty of ways to make text-focused games that don't emphasize visuals, my favorite types of games tend to be either (1) highly stylized, well-animated action games (furi, dmc, bayonetta) and (2) exploration-focused action-adventure games with a heavy emphasis on environmental storytelling (metroid, half-life, dark souls). in other words, the sort of games where high-quality art is not optional!
so, i'd like to actually learn how to be a passable artist. i'm looking for 2d art resources for absolute beginners - and i really do mean absolute beginners. i can't even draw reasonably proportioned stickfigures. art largely still seems like black magic to me and i'm looking for a course (or book, video series, etc.) that starts from "absolute zero" to "at least conceptually understands the basics of drawing." i figured present company might know some places i could look!