First of all you get better by practicing, even if it’s just a few small doodles a day. Looking at references has really helped me, I recommend Pintrest for ideas, references, or just cool stuff in general. You can also watch videos. For blending I recommend using a blending stick and if you don’t have that you can use a tissue or something soft to blend
I think he meant that if there was a God then he would not let us struggle. Yet I think he is incorrect because if God did not let us struggle then we would never learn.