i'm not sure if this has been posted here before, as i only jump in and out of here occasionally. however,
http://www.drawingboard.org/">this place seems like it would be an excellent resource for budding artistes.
it's basically a community of illustrators, comic artists, cartoonists and what-have-you, and there are drawing jams where you can work on your style and compare it with others, pick up style tips, etc.