As far as comparing yourself to others: Don’t. Appreciate other’s ability, don’t allow yourself to get dragged down by destructive self-criticism. Being critical of your own artwork is a good thing, but breaking yourself down over it is not.

Here’s an excercise that’s going to sound very familiar at first but which I guarantee will help with both the art block and with finding your purpose.

Take an old piece of art that you liked. Now, close your eyes and attempt to reproduce it exactly. Now take it and close your eyes and draw it with improvements: Change the pose, change the angle, add or subtract. Don’t open your eyes. Note: It’s important in these steps not to open your eyes or try to make it look good. Now open your eyes. Look at the image. What immediately springs to mind? That’s what you’re drawing next. Create that image in a way you never usually would. Use a medium you don’t normally use. Do this three times. Let yourself go, do whatever springs to mind as it comes to your mind. Important: RELAX. Try not to let yourself get into the mindset of “this is something I must make perfectly. It isn’t. This is a journey of self-exploration. You may find yourself confronted with a whole new method or focus for your art. And that’s fantastic.

Good luck.