Misc: Pursuing passion

Today I came across a quite interesting topic about being your job in the animation industry your passion or just being your job. I found it in Dave Pimentel's blog  and he talks about storyboarding but I think it applies to any discipline and I couldn't agree more with him.

http://drawingsfromamexican.blogspot.com/2011/04/artist-in-animation-vs-animation-artist.html

As an artist you should always want to get better.  We are on a constant road of evolution with our art.  I believe that true artists aren't satisfied with where they are on that road of evolution.  They are always searching for inspiring visuals, books, films, paintings, drawings, or anything to help them learn and get better.    It's a double edged sword for artists who feel this way because you want to feel good about your current work and yet you should be self aware as to how you want to improve it.  The day we stop striving to be better artists is the day we become stagnant and stop growing.
Psychologically believing that you are an artist who works in animation will benefit your animation career.  Reason being you will not just be completing a trade on a daily basis but you will see the artistic facet of your trade whether it be animating, storyboarding, modeling, character design,,,etc.  Realizing that artistic facet will help defeat mediocrity.
The opposite mind set is solely being an animation artist.  this is someone who will not create outside the realm of their job description and will not create any art after they have left the building of employment.  I respect everyone no matter how they feel, but that way of thinking means that that artist is a tradesman.  Someone who is crafting a particular skill and that skill only.  These artists or tradesman if you will do not create any art at home. 
The psychological effect can turn into an animation artist who does not grow or doesn't care to grow in their career because they don't see themselves as artists first.  Thus the career dictates the amount of art done and the hunger to improve is suppressed.  Some may be totally fine with that or some may say they don't have time to create art outside of work.  I've even heard many say that they draw enough all day and the last thing they want to do when they get home is draw.  Sad.

If you are reading this blog you can probably consider yourself as from the second group as it seems that you have some interest in other people's work or in other people's inspirations or in keeping learning beyond your regular job.
When I was reading Dave's blog I came to think of another interesting post in John Hagel's blog about passion in life that I totally subscribe and which I felt completely identified. A little long but worth the read :)

Pursuing passion