Ray Kinman: Legacy Disney Artist

Today we sit down with master woodcarver and former Disney Imagineering artist Ray Kinman, whose nearly 50-year career started when he bluffed his way into carving a restaurant sign with borrowed money, no tools, and zero experience. Kinman describes feeling "untalented," getting sparked by one supportive art teacher, then derailed by another, dropping out at 15 amid family turmoil, going through feral hippie years, learning silversmithing, and finally turning to carving when he had a baby on the way. After years of scraping by, his break came when an Imagineering senior designer spotted his Claim Jumper carving and brought him in; Kinman became a vendor on attractions like Indiana Jones Adventure and Winnie the Pooh. He argues real learning comes from mistakes, critiques test-driven schooling, explains Disney's desire for "wonky" human-made lines, and says AI and automation will make handmade work the new gold standard. He's planning a feature documentary around a Holly Theater commission and writing a book, Failing Forward. Listen to us Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Watch and subscribe on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Host: Mike Rosado Post Production: Max Trujillo (instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: Musgrave Pencil Company