Since so many ideas were put forward, I'll just talk abut my rig. I have large a Wacom Cintiq (stylus not touch) and I love it because I can touch with my stylus exactly where the paint or line is meant to go. That is like how I learned and did for years before such technology was available. I never quite got into the tablets that were referring to the screen but you would touch down on your desk or in your lap and hope it went in the right spot up on the monitor. But with the Cintiq it's the best thing ever.
There are competitors out there too, not just Wacom. So you can look around. Not sure how much money you want to spent. But that's pretty much in the high end direction.
What a lucky girl any way you go.
"Not a bit is wasted and the best is yet to come. . ." -- remembered from a dream