How can I learn graphic design?

I am a Network Engineer. In my spare time I enjoy creating websites and applications. However, I have never been artistically talented. I'd like to learn about graphic design and get to a place where I could make decent interfaces for my sites/applications. I am wondering if anyone can recommend some websites or books that would be good tutorials on the concepts and practical aspects of learning graphic design. I'm not looking to make this my life's work, rather just want to complement my current development skills. I currently have JASC Paint Shop Pro X and Paint.Net 3.05.

I do user interface design. There are a couple of things you need to learn about, but the main ones are:

1) HCI (Human Computer Interaction) issues
2) functionality
3) Graphic design (research shows that people think that nice looking interfaces are actually more user friendly...)

There's a good book available at:

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/uibook/cha...

Both an online version as well as a printed, longer, version.

Another one:
http://webstyleguide.com/interface/index...

Of course, Jacob Nielsen's writings are always interesting (though a bit on the harsh side at times)

http://www.usabilityviews.com/

Next, you need basic design principles awareness:

http://www.digital-web.com/articles/prin... (also books referenced)
http://desktoppub.about.com/od/designpri...
http://www.carnrightdesign.com/design_ru...

And, finally you need to know how to analyse the workflow behind the actions, or rather identify in what way & why your target group performs certain actions. Everything needs to be user-based.

There's much more to be told about good interface design, but this should get you started.

CHeers!

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?p...

Graphic design -- well good graphic design -- is predominately a studio based learning process. It delves deeper than simply creating something that is pretty. It is a process in which the work stems and extrapolates from a conceptual or theoretical idea. Like all design disciplines, there isn't a bulleted list of concepts you need to learn [like say as the sciences have]. What you have to study is Method and theory. I would suggest studying the dissertations of famous architects and artists. Find how they conceptualize and idea and then Create it. Generic 'Graphic Design' for dummies books won't get you far. If you are interested in the craft portion of it...as in, exactly how to draw or use the programs then books are fine. There are a multitude of tutorial'ish type books at any bookstore teaching the craft of photoshop, illustrator etc.
[recommended architects and artists, Le Corbusier, Mies Van der Rohe, Zaha Hadid, Gehry, Dali etc]