The first attempts are unbearable

“The first attempts are absolutely unbearable … I do my best not to put in any detail, as the dream quality would then be lost”.

This is an excerpt from a letter Van Gogh wrote to a friend in 1952. The topic was drawing, but the concept can be apply to absolutely anything you’re working on. The first attempts are the worst. Your first ideas are the most mediocre. Don’t get too attached.


Make rough prototypes, forget the details, work on the concept and dream quality. Details will show up later.