Excessive focus on copying from reference is the old atelier method, and it is not the only way. Sure, you need to do some of this, but it is IMHO better to foc

Excessive focus on copying from reference is the old atelier method, and it is not the only way. Sure, you need to do some of this, but it is IMHO better to focus on trying to draw from imagination from day one, and then find the weaknesses in what you produce and then draw from reference or watch a tutorial to for example figure out how to make a mouth look ok. This way you are trying to solve concrete problems that are obstacles to what you are passionate about rather than doing endless aimless copying. This makes the process (again IMHO) more fun and sustainable. You do need to have a little bit of a general framework to base your drawing around, and that can be gotten (if you like to draw people) by learning some basics about how to draw stick like figures marionettes as an armature to build your person around. See for example the first few chapters in Loomis book "Figure drawing for all it is worth". This has worked for me as a beginner. For a video putting forward a similar view from an expert, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rlF-qE-vsM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rlF-qE-vsM