Recently, I read a book about “first principles thinking.” In it, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is said to most often use “first principles thinking.” He says that if you always imitate what others do, you’ll always just follow behind; but if you’re willing to deconstruct the problem to its most fundamental level and restart from the “facts,” you may discover entirely different solutions.

This truly resonated with me. Because on the path of artistic creation, I often encounter similar bottlenecks:

  • The works I create seem just like everyone else’s;

  • The works already on the market are accepted by clients—so what new ideas can I bring?

  • I even wonder: is the path of art really just this one way?

First principles thinking, however, is like a key that reminds me: Don’t rush to follow trends; first return to the most fundamental starting point—often, the answer lies in the original facts.

 

The Charms of First Principles Thinking

We often feel problems are complicated, but if you break them down, many truths are simple.
 For example:

  • The first principle of family is economy, not purely emotion;

  • The first principle in the workplace is value, not effort;

  • The first principle of education is ability, not grades;

  • The first principle of health is self-discipline, not medical treatment;

  • The first principle of entrepreneurship is demand, not competition;

  • The first principle of investing is risk control, not high returns;

  • The first principle of growth is reflection, not experience;

  • The first principle of emotional relationships is self-enrichment, not mutual demands.

Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Many things we think are “problems,” are actually us misidentifying the key focus.

 

In Artistic Creation — First Principles Thinking

  1. Materials & Form
     People often think paper carving is just “cutting paper and stacking layers.”
    But if you truly deconstruct it:

  • Paper is light yet can support complex shapes;

  • When light hits the edge of paper, it creates shadows and depth;

  • Paper is flat, but when layered, it becomes three-dimensional.

So, what makes paper carving truly special is not the paper itself, but paper + light and shadow + space. That is the most moving and unique value of paper carving.

  1. Where Inspiration Comes From
     Many ask me: “Where do you get your inspiration? Don’t you sometimes encounter creative blocks?” Actually, yes—if you only look at others’ work, eventually you’ll hit a wall.
    But if you apply first principles thinking:

  • The essence of inspiration is a “new combination”;

  • A new combination stems from “input” and “observation”;

  • So as long as you increase diverse inputs (travel, observe architecture, feel nature, notice daily details), inspiration will certainly reemerge.

Thinking this way, you don’t fear “running out of inspiration,” because it’s not about luck—it’s methodical.

  1. What Clients Really Buy
     Why are some people willing to pay more for our paper carving than for typical wall art?
     If it’s just “because it’s hard to do by hand,” that’s difficult to persuade or move someone.
    First principles tell me:

  • Clients are not buying paper;

  • Clients are not buying just the artwork;

  • What clients are actually buying is memories preserved, spaces elevated, and heartfelt expression.

Because we allow someone to feel a genuine beauty and an emotion that belongs to them.
 This is the reason we truly exist.


~First Principles Thinking Is Not Just for Art

In fact, first principles thinking is not only a tool used by all successful people—it can also help us see our life choices more clearly.  For example:

  • When you feel work is exhausting, ask yourself: am I pursuing effort itself, or the value behind it?

  • When you worry about family matters, perhaps it’s not about whether the affection is enough, but whether economic stability can bring peace of mind.

  • When you worry about your child’s grades, don’t just look at scores—but whether they really learned abilities.

Many times, we aren’t lacking answers—we’re disrupted by “surface voices.” When you quiet down and ask: “What is the most fundamental meaning of this matter?” You’ll find your direction becomes much clearer.


~Returning to Art

To me, the first principle of art has always been expression and resonance. When a piece stops someone in their tracks and moves their heart—that is its real value.

At Kamicarv, we don’t create mere decorative objects; We hope to use the highest quality paper to convey the most sincere warmth. To give space a bit more soul, And life a bit more warmth.

This is why we continue on with first principles thinking as our foundation.

( Translated from the original Chinese text )