Hello!

[Swordticus]

My artistic level (I think) would be that I know how to copy very well and also use reference to base my art off of something. I'd love to be able to draw more from my imagination though and not have to rely so heavily from reference but I don't know exactly what the next step should be. Up until now I always felt like I have been moving forward but now it feels like I'm slowly going into a rut of some kind. If anybody has any feedback or advice on what to work on, I'd love to hear what you think. Any studies or drawing exercises would be incredibly helpful as well!

I think in order to leave reference aside you have to build a reliable visual library. That is to study a subject matter (the thing you want to draw, say like fish or knights) so you have a visual representation (kind of like a 3d model inside your head) that you can refer to without the need of references, However, there's only two ways to get this stuff done... and those are: 1 you study that thing (like seriously) or 2 you draw it a lot... and since they are basically the same thing I guess that makes it the only way xD 

I like your explanation for visual library. I've seen that term being talked about here and there and I agree.

I mean on one hand, because everything that exists can be constructed using a barrage of basic shapes, technically you could draw anything once you've practiced them enough - But on the other hand, you still have to understand the size, shape and form of those things you're drawing for it to look likable to your subject matter, so that's why studying  as you said, is necessary.

I think you hit it right on the nose on needing to have a reliable visual library to sway away from reference. It's just, grr, kinda angering at times because it feels like a crutch a times you know? But I think you're right, you need to just start drawing things. I'll add some variety in my studies to draw different things.

There was a beautiful quote I remember from a tutorial about drawing from the imagination and I'll change it a bit for context.

If you want to learn how to draw a potato, you gotta know what a potato looks like. :D

Reikhard:

A good exercise is to look at reference for e.g. 2 min. and then trying to copy the images/pose/... without looking at it. I have to do this myself more often but it's recommended by Robert Henrí a lot.

Oh that's a great exercise! I've seen similar but not exact advice before around. Remembering where those came from, it was from a book an artist made called Cognitive Drawing aaannd I believe Will Terrell on Youtube.

I've been looking into practicing like that but I'm glad a great artist like that did the same! Thank you!