not only is it not a bad thing, it's actually taught in art school. :3

doing Old Master copies to emulate and experience the styles of great artists
can help one think about the art in different ways,
if one considers how the master came about their work.

what can be kind of bad is parroting the style of another artist closely, without trying to put one's own personality into it.

I like the quirky nature of what you draw and hope it'll keep on coming through in whatever direction your art might take.

I've always had that nagging feeling in my head that if I even vaguely copy someone I'll get called out on it, because of this I've stagnated for a while. An old friend once said "fake it till you make it" and it's starting to make sense now.

I hope this will take ya somewhere good, Zeto. <3

Imagination can take you to many strange lands~

oh, I know.

HOW I know. <3