Just my own personal view, but working from drawings is still keeping the would-be 3D artist tied to a 2D mind-set. Isn't it better to develop a sense of in-the-round design, and a feel for three dimensions, from the outset?

I reckon that a far better approach is to get hold of clay, plasticine or whatever, and actually model in 3D from the outset. Or build stuff from bits of wood, paper & card, or anything else you could use to construct, carve or model something.

That way, when you get to working on a 2D screen, you're far more aware of the virtual 3D void you're really building models in.

That worked for me, anyway. I very rarely draw (though I can), and then only rough working diagrams. I normally get straight to 3D.