Reply #4: Bezier curves are tricky, but once you master them, powerful

[gmoney]

basically, you click to add a point, then drag to determine the curve coming in and out of the point. You'll see little "handles" coming out of each point -- longer handles means the curve will "stick" to that line more than it will a shorter line. You can adjust the handles to adjust the curve, and I believe you can just drag the curve where you want it. You can also draw non-smooth curves, straight lines, etc. You can also color in the areas with various methods.

Simplicity gives better results. A circle should just be described with 4 points (0, 90, 180, 270 degrees).

A few dozen books on Illustrator available. You could probably order a book for a version or two back to save money, as the basics probably haven't changed much. Or check your library.

Hope that helps a tiny bit...