(Not OC)
Might be an unpopular opinion, but I think having artwork hinders your imagination a lot, if you have pictures. You can’t really make up your own images in your head that way.
I definitely feel the same way most of the time, but some people just can’t visualize things, simply because how the brain is wired, and not by any fault of their own. It’s like how some people taste soap when they eat cilantro, they can’t control their genetics. I find it quite interesting myself to stop and compare the images my mind has generated while reading to related artwork and visuals, specifically if they’re drawn or approved by the author.