Raymond Kinman, Legacy Disney Woodcarver

Woodcarving slows you down—in the best way. Presence, patience, peace. Maybe we’ll finish our Scrooge projects tonight… maybe not. The journey matters more. #WoodcarvingWisdom #SlowCraft #ScroogeStrike #RayKinman

Last night I discovered a new manly cooking technique at our NO GIRLS ALLOWED woodcarving retreat….

When the smoke alarm gets triggered, your pizza is done.

This really happened.

Marisa’s away, so it’s a NO GIRLS ALLOWED woodcarving retreat. Scars, tanks, jerky, explosions… and carving Scrooge McDuck. Stay tuned. #WoodcarvingRetreat #NoGirlsAllowed #ScroogeStrike #RayKinman #ManCaveVibes

Spent my morning coffee trying to get AI to make an action figure of… me. One hour, multiple shutdowns, and zero reason for doing it. But hey—everyone deserves their own toy, right? #AIArt #ActionFigureMe #CreativeWeirdness #RayKinman

NO GIRLS ALLOWED retreat in full swing! The Scrooge Strike mission is on—mallets up, chips flying, frozen pizza in hand. Honor in the grain, baby. #WoodcarvingRetreat #ScroogeStrike #NoGirlsAllowed #RayKinman #ManCaveArt

2 days ’til Charlotte, NC! I’ll be at the Charlotte Woodcarvers Showcase April 5-6. Free entry, free parking—come say hi & check out the amazing carvings! #CharlotteWoodcarvers #MeetAndGreet #WoodcarvingShowcase #RayKinman #EastCoastAdventures

If you emailed & never heard back—Gmail was secretly trashing messages! Found hundreds in the bin. Fixed now & catching up. Thanks for your patience! #EmailFail #TechGlitch #WeSeeYouNow #RayKinman #WoodCarverLife

I only sign things that say I won’t sign anything.

Wink!

Every retreat, someone says “Coolest thing I’ve ever done!” These first-time carvers blew us away with personal, heartfelt pieces. So proud of them all! #WoodCarvingRetreat #FirstTimeCarvers #CreativeJoy #MadeWithLove #MerlinsGarden

Just back from El Salvador, where colors like pink, lime & turquoise dance in the sun—bold, joyful, and unapologetic. No HOA here… maybe it’s time to celebrate color! #ColorfulLife #NoHOA #TravelVibes #ElSalvador #JoyInColor

We were so moved by your stories from our Valentine’s giveaway that we made a free eBook to share the love! Want a copy? Comment below! #AllYouNeedIsLove #Woodcarving #Giveaway #FreeeBook #SpreadLove

My old school, Taper Avenue in San Pedro, asked me to help spruce up their sign—maybe even design a new one! It’s now a STEAM Magnet, so we’ll make it a school-wide arts project. Go Taper Tigers!

I call it: Jack & Sally Date Night! Two beautifully weird souls who balance each other, love slowly, and finally find where they belong. Signed, numbered, limited carvings—customizable for your family!

After 47 years of carving for others, I finally made something for our home—a huge Purple Heart wood sign for our driveway. It’s signed, numbered, and yes, that purple color is real. Let’s see if it stays!

For some DVC peeps!

Boomers probably remember Pee-Chee folders—I sure do. I found the artist’s name: Francis Golden. Just a working guy who did a quick job that became iconic. Funny… I was just working too. And now it means the world.

I left school at 15 and taught myself everything I know. Mistakes were my classroom. I call it “Failing Forward”—test, fail, adjust, repeat. That’s how real learning happens. It’s working. Well.

Talent’s overrated. What really matters is patience, practice, and persistence. This old carving shows how far I’ve come—growth is slow, but when you look back, the change is striking.

This was my 1st grade lunch pail—now it holds hearing aid supplies. It’s from 1963, called “Satellite,” by artist John Polgreen, whose space art shaped how we imagined the future back then.

We lost two young mothers this week—one leaves behind 4 kids under 8, the youngest just 2 weeks old. This quote comforted me when I lost a friend: “Time isn’t real to God. Love is what makes a life full.”

On the carving bench now—soon to the painting bench! One perk of being an Old Fart? Teaching! Here’s your lesson: Dark recedes, light comes forward. A trick from Michelangelo & me. #OldFartWisdom #Chiaroscuro #WoodCarving

Every man thinks he’s a rogue at heart—that’s why he NEEDS his ManCave. See the whitewashed fence? A nod to Tom Sawyer, the master of persuasion. Woodcarving takes time… Father’s Day is closer than you think. Tell me about the pirate in your life! #ManCave

Working on a new hand-carved door design—see-through panels with marbled glass for a warm glow and privacy. Featuring a GreenMan moon, GreenWoman, vines & stars. Still in the sketch phase, but it’s feeling magical! #WoodCarving #ArtisanDoors

You know you’ve made it when your mom has your fridge magnet/bottle opener on her microwave!

We don’t sell these magnets - they’re giveaways.

“All is Well” is our mantra, a reminder to trust and stay resilient. Want a mini carving?

#AllIsWell #WoodCarving #Handmade

On my way home from a 5-day family reunion at the beach…

This cracks me up: When I first blended into Marisa’s family, I was suspicious. They actually like each other? No one tries to escape?

My family specialized in creative awkwardness. I assumed all families did.

Anyone else relate?

#Family

We live in interesting times. Last night, as an experiment, I asked AI:

“Create an image of a relief woodcarving in the style of Raymond Kinman.”

The result? Big problems. But also… something intriguing.

It knows who I am. It recognizes my design elements.

I watch with fascination and terror.

The smaller the carving, the more adorable it is—I can’t deny it.

Why does tiny = extra cute? Maybe it’s like babies, tiny animals, or dollhouse furniture—there’s a built-in “aww” factor. Small things pull us in, engage us with the details.

Maybe it’s nostalgia? Playful, like childhood in 3D.

If you love woodcarving or California history, this is for you!

Marisa & I have been invited to The Madonna Inn, and we’ll be sharing the adventure—live videos, posts & stories!

This legendary spot is packed with incredible woodcarvings & history. Stay tuned for dates!

#MadonnaInn #WoodCarving

I have a purpose in life. A mission, if you will.

Straightening Mom’s pictures.

She knows I do this. I’m convinced she tilts them just before I arrive—because she knows it makes me happy to fix them.

I’m not OCD. My studio? Pure chaos. But crooked pictures? Oddly unsettling.

I call this one “Jack & Sally Date Night”…

I always know I’ve got a great design when Marisa walks in and says, “Oh my God, that’s SO stinking adorable!”

She’s right. Mini versions of our carvings somehow look even cuter than the full-size ones!

Want one? We can customize it!

#JackAndSally