I've certainly been inspired by people, one that was probably the most significant was when I.T. was still around, before FH of course. Occasionally a person called Zima would get on I.T. and their character really caught my eye as a young artist of 13, I didn't really know about copying and how bad it was yet, though I knew not to copy exactly what theirs was, I would change it up.
I really looked up to Zima, as he/she (sorry I still don't know what gender they are XD) is also an artist on deviantart that is called MeJony. So anyway, since I could not get over how Zima looked, I tried my best to not make it exactly like Zima and put my own spin on it thinking it was ok.
But one day when I came across Zima and their friend ,whom is another artist that I cannot think the name of, even though I did not have a preset or anything, they still thought I looked too much like Zima and they got mad at me...I have forever since learned my lesson heh, and it still haunts me, badly...
Now I do my best to create totally original characters, doing my best not to copy anyone's colors, patterns, markings, etc. because I am now traumatized, and also know how it feels when someone tries to copy you. Please don't do this, don't let it happen to you DX
I have since made Nightingale who is laying down in my signature below :3 and I am proud to announce that she is TOTALLY original XD