experimentation and learning new techniques? any advice?

this is more of a rendering question that a sketching question but what is a good way to learn new rendering techniques? (other than buying dvds or books)

i have been trying to use different methods of communicating ideas in renderings with much fustration and little success…some of the things that do seem to work require too much time. so i am trying to learn some new stuff and some ways to speed up the stuff that works for me now…

suggestions?