imagination problems

if you a beginner artist or still learning  , I think you might face that  drawing from imagination problems , if you try to invent a character or location or specific action you try to look for it on your mind but nothing comes out!!!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

So you go to a reference and start to copy from it and make your touch... is that right??? Or should the artist draw from his mind directly?? And how the beginner can improve that and built a library in there mind!!!!