I am currently planning on creating a multipage website with HTML CSS and Javascript and hopefully some external framework to make it look pretty and modern.
My question is this, is this the best time for me to pick up a frontend framework??
I did have some experience with using javascript on the front end part.
If you want to build a mock-up/prototype multi-page site to practice and solidify your HTML/CSS knowledge, then it is definitely a good use of your time and efforts. I found that I learned the most when I tried to build my own projects.
Just to clarify, by ‘external frameworks’ do you mean CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or Bulma (recommend!), or JS frameworks like React?
It all depends on your current skills level and your goals. Learning and practising any new skills is a good use of time. But I’d suggest honing in the basics of HTML/CSS - page layout, positioning, making it look pretty etc, before tackling more challenging tasks - so that you are not slowed down by it later on.