Derwent Academy Online Classes - a fun (and rewarding!) opportunity!
I don't know if you've had a chance to look at Derwent Academy's website - but it is chock-a-block full of information! Derwent is a company located in the United Kingdom (Great Britain to exact!). They make WONDERFUL fine-art pencils including: sketching pencils, sketch-wash pencils, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, Inktense pencils (which are a special kind of watercolor pencil), and a variety of other items. I recently found out that Derwent has an online academy - and that they have a rather fabulous offer for anyone who's interested in learning more about drawing/art skills. They currently offer a 6-lesson class to anyone who is interested. If you complete all 6 lessons successfully, they will send you a 18-piece set of their wonderful pencils! GOTTA LOVE THAT!! All that is required is that you follow the general directions given (and they usually give you a choice of what or how to draw). And that you submit a photo or scanned-image of you...