[Steel and wood]

I too do both. (I fingerpick with thumb using a plastic thumb pick plus first and second finger only using metal fingerpicks).

Develop a few fingerpicking pattern in 4/4 as your base and then go from there. (Simple banjo rolls and/or more difficult Travis style patterns). Your choice if you want to use a thumb pick or fingerpicks. (Experiment until you find something that feels and sounds right for you).

Good luck!