1) I think that mere copying is closer to craft than art (they're not opposites, just two independent concepts), but you can find way to be original even without having to start from scratch. Many artists based their works on appropriating and remixing pre-existing works – their personal input came from HOW they reused other people's art. My suggestion: Learn about 20th-21st century artists, be inspired by the way they worked, and explore many ideas so you can find your own style