comparison invites curiosity
A barrel of words wrapped up their showcase of Small, steady progress and the will to not give up:
An advice that I see mainly from professional artists is to instead of comparing yourself to them or comparing your art to an amazing art piece and feeling small and disappointed, that we should try to transform that comparison into inspiration. You see the goal, you have the potential, go practice so you can reach it! The thing you saw was the result of years of practice, a mountain of mistakes and "failed" attempts, which only then led to that polished piece.
You can recast comparison from a thief of joy to not only that beacon of inspiration, but also a merchant of curiosity. Following along with the journey of people you admire and respect in any which way is one thing. Emulating the steps they took at your current level is another. Connecting with them is an entirely different beast. How can you get a hold of them while respecting their time?
Can you share a small insight or ask with them that you suspect they would appreciate? Can you give them an easy public outlet to talk about themselves and their life's work? Take advantage of how people love talking about themselves and being paid attention to. Exploit the fact that such few people attempt moonshots toward their role models in the first place. All that benefits from accepting whatever outcome arises, even if it's a lack thereof. You can try again later after rotating through your rolodex. You have multiple inspirations before you, right?
Approach them kindly like you would a good friend. No matter how superior you perceive them to be, they are human just like you. Remind yourself how they were once a novice just like you are or had been. Surprise yourself with how warmly your attempts at connection can be received. Should they be received, may your exchanges flourish. Hopefully you have prepared for the opportunity and can hit the ball out of the park. If not, learning from your mistakes then getting back on the horse is still a worthy success to seize.
Whether those you favor are alive or not, have you thought beyond them? If you can't reach them directly, who else can serve as intermediate stepping stones or even healthier digressions altogether? Who are their idols, mentors, apprentices, and admirers? Who are their collaborators, associates, rivals, and otherwise? What could tapping into that social network of genius bring forth for your benefit, the network's benefit, and beyond? How much can your curiosity blossom into community this way?