HELP! Corel painter essentials 4...

[Makoes]

So, I got my tablet and it came with some art programs, such as corel 4, now...the main setback for me has been that I really have no idea how to use these art programs. I was sort of getting the hang of photoshop (sort of as in I could make/flatten layers) on my laptop, but since corel 4 came with my tablet, i've been trying to figure it out.

But...I have no idea what I am doing. I dont even know how to flatten the layers together...or collaps, since its ALWAYS greyed out. I dont know how to to all those really awsome colorings that I see on deviant art, or in these forums. I really really want to learn how to use my art programs...but, I'd like to have some people I can ask questions to. Tutorials and walkthroughs are somewhat limited as many I find talk about using brushes that they or someone else made... or they skip steps and assume that people know how to get to were the stuff is.

I need someone who's familiar with the program that can explain how to use it in...laymans terms.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

so...for say a tester pic to work with someone(s) on. I'll post a rather old drawing I did.