!!!!

Oh thank you!!

I honestly get a lot out of reading books on drawing and technique... I found Keys to Drawing by Bert Dodson to be SUPER helpful when I was starting to take art more seriously. I think Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is a classic for a good reason too. Both of these books are good in helping you learn to see in the way you need to see to draw well, and you can find cheap used versions pretty easily. I recommend following through the exercises in each, even if they seem boring!

I think the classic advice of carrying a sketchbook around and drawing from life is really good advice. I don't always follow it well these days because I work from home and am inside a lot, I'm busy, etc, but it's a great practice. You'll learn good techniques from the books above to help you do this too!

I also thought for a long time that it was wrong to copy the work of other artists. Don't be afraid to do this! Especially if you wanna make stuff that's more stylized, copying the work of artists you admire is going to help you learn how to simplify shapes and stylize in ways you like and may not have arrived at on your own. My sketchbooks are packed with drawings of other peoples' drawings. Obviously don't try to pass it off as your own work, but it's a great way to learn. I remember someone talking once about how musicians aren't expected to come up with their own unique pieces when they're learning to play an instrument... they learn to play existing songs. You're allowed and encouraged to do the same thing with your art.