A wise choice. 3D modelling is a lot harder than it looks. After you make the model (while being conscious of the amount of polygons you use) you have to "unwrap" it so you can format the texture to fit it correctly. I was never particularly good at the 3D modelling bit, and I never even begun to understand unwrapping and texturing.

There are a number of tools and add-ons that make the process a doodle, I work with Maya and they help workflow tremendously, there are also packages that allow you to paint directly onto models using traditional tools and will unwrap the textures automatically, in any format you could need.
I would also like to address the comment made earlier, that beginners should stay away from modelling. I would disagree; I am self-taught, what started as a hobby on the Amiga now supplements my income. Everyone starts as a beginner, but with the attitude you should not even try, how can you ever hope to progress and learn any new skills.
There are now any number of good online resources and whole communities built up around the different packages available including free tools like Blender. While a tool like Maya is certainly intimidating when opening it up for the first time, with the user manual in hand and the provided tutorials you can be up and running in no time. Furthermore, an entire industry has grown up around producing tutorial content for 3D packages and art packages in general, much of it free, and an excellent resource to see you on your way.