If this is one of your new Year Resolutions, here is a great resource: Will Kemp art school.  Lots of free advice and videos.

You can carry on to pay to buy further series of teaching videos.  But even what’s available for free on his website and early videos will get you buying gear with confidence, setting out a palette and beginning, and you will have several pictures you can have completed.

http://willkempartschool.com/new-start-here/

Videos are this simple and friendly.  Here’s the start of one project.