I can agree with you 100% on this. It applies to everything! For painting as an example, I would be inspired to paint but didn't know what. I went to the internet to see and I saw things I wanted to try painting, copying from what i saw just to see if I could paint. Credits to the artist of course, it was a success. But then when I wanted to paint again, I was left without an idea and it also left me with the need to look on the internet again. I didn't want to because I quickly saw the pattern I was making for myself. How could I become creative if I do only what I see? There is no growth.

Of course, going on the net just to find a quick tutorial on how to get that certain look, how to make a flower look dried up or something but only do that if you are already wanting to paint that and have started and not getting quite what you want. Although I know I should have done that with my silhouette painting but I wanted to see what I could do first. Next one is going to be better I'm sure.

I'm glad you saw this awful pattern of tutorial hell. Growth comes when you apply your skills. Happy you took that step forward, and high 5 to your dad!