Becoming friends with fellow artists

[Maidith]

Artists make friends with other artists when they suck and start out, people their own level basically and over the course of 3 years everyone sort of develops at a similar pace if they're actually trying and that's how a lot of "good" artists know other good artists.

Make friends with your generation and that'll lead to more friends.
That's how it worked for me anyway.

That's very much my experience too.
I started hanging around in online art communities many years ago, and other artists I met back online back then (also some I met face to face) have now developed badass skills. If you keep in touch over the years t's very inspiring to watch such progress.

Of course you can, and should, ask questions and research the artists who are above you skill and career-wise. You can learn SO much from them, it would be stupid not to take advantage of that.
Those I talked to always have been very friendly and helpful. (Provided, of course, that you're polite too, and don't ask 'hey what tablet do u use lol"). I haven't met any snotty snobs so far.