Stories of Sheng Zhen Men
How can a creative idea begin before technical mastery?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
You can start by making a draft, then learn and experiment whenever you encounter something you do not know how to do. Once you have a general idea, begin working on it. You do not have to master every part of the process before starting. This was how Dao Yue completed the stickers drawn for Sheng Zhen Men, one step at a time.
When Dao Yue first got a tablet, they were still figuring out how to draw with it. Later, a photograph of me holding a luopan inspired them to turn it into a sticker. After drawing the draft, they did not know how to color it, so they looked for tutorials for the drawing software they were using, watched how other people worked, and tried it themselves. Whenever a particular part was unfamiliar, they learned that part.
After coloring the first version, Dao Yue sent it to YOYO and the fellow practitioner helping with post-production. Their encouragement led Dao Yue to decide to keep drawing. The originally rough and rather untidy drafts were also carefully revised one by one. The work did not come together perfectly in one attempt. It gradually became complete through experimentation and revision.
I often encountered similar situations when I worked on public relations events. You might have a very unusual idea in your mind, but while it remains only an idea, you still need to find a way to make it real before it can count as creativity. Clients have expectations, and execution brings difficulties, so you have to keep looking for solutions. You cannot simply admire how wonderful your idea is while never actually carrying it out.
When I began recording the Podcast, I did not buy all the equipment at once either. I first recorded with a microphone connected to an iPad, later switched to a computer, and then moved to proper recording equipment. There was indeed a difference in the sound captured. When discussing it with YOYO at the time, the plan was to record for a while and see whether we could keep going before buying more equipment. Starting first and making adjustments as you go allows you to begin, while practical experience shows you what still needs improvement.