Pixel.

[Ruskin]

from picture or observation, blick?

[Blick]

Picture.

[Ruskin]

As I suspected. There's nothing inherently wrong with working from photographs, but it can lead to trouble, especially when learning. I'd advise working from observation as much as possible while trying new things out.

Still lifes can be boring, but there's a reason so many artists do them, particularly students. And interestingly arranged and composed still lifes can be pretty interesting, and fairly fun to draw/paint/whatever. They're good exercises in composition and framing and that sort thing, as well, which is indispensable to any artistic endeavor.