residualhaunt,
To continue:
until I know how to make vectors from scratch I've been making due with the 'Image Trace' option for my logos
You may still start by drawing things by hand, or just use something you have drawn already, and use that as a template.
You may then scan the hand drawn artwork and place it on its own layer, locked, then recreate it (on top) by using the Pen Tool or other tools for special shapes (such as Rectangle/square, Ellipse/circle, Star, Polygon, Spiral, whatever), and you may use the Type Tool to create the text if you have the right fonts; you may edit while drawing with the tools, and you may edit/adjust afterwards.
One way of editing underway when using the Pen Tool is to use the Spacebar: when you Click or ClickDrag (for curved path segments) and wish to adjust the position of the Anchor Point you have just made, you may Hold the Spacebar and move about (ClickHolding) until you are satisfied; if it has Handles, the Handles are freezed as long as you Hold the Spacebar. You can switch freely between adjusting the Anchor Point and adjusting the Handles by Holding/non Holding the Spacebar as many times as you like, then go on to the next Anchor Point.
You can adjust Anchor Point positions and Handles afterwards by ClickDragging with the Direct Selection Tool (after deselecting the object if needed); you may Click the Anchor Point or an adjacent path segment to have the Anchor Point and Handles shown.
You may also start working without a template.
Unless you are after a hand drawn appearance, the Pen Tool gives more accurate and clean artwork than do the Pencil and Paintbrush Tools.
To practise with the Pen Tool, in order to get the insight into its working, you may trace anything: (serif) letters, circles, ellipses, (rounded) rectangles, images.
One thing to remember is that fewer Anchor Points (with the right Handles) give smoother shapes.