So tonights episode of Craft wars is supposed to be really cool.
Check it out if you're around.
TLC at 8PM
and again at 11 PM

[link]

[link]

RAY
LIN

So I went to Cali last month to do a project. And it is sick! I don't think I can ever eat another burger unless its from IN & OUT. Seriously nothing compares. NEW YORK needs  to step they burger game up. I digress.

Another thing, The Cali Metro, is AWESOME, except that it only runs til 12. Seriously the honor system of "Tap" paying is just hilarious.  That stuff would not fly at all in New York.

I was really glad I got to meet fellow deviant artist   and let me tell you, He's just as cool in person as he is online.   Sculptor Love baby!

Anyway Thanks for watching folks, Just wanted to keep you all updated. I plan on posting a lot of work in progresses in the following days. But please please please, forgive me if I'm late
Diablo 3 just came out... <3

RAY
LIN

Things are happening. Most of which I can't talk about. :3 but I've been very busy making furniture as well as sculpting...
Also got a chance to borrow 's  DSLR to shoot money shots of new work. So Thanks again Yun. Enjoy!

Also I did get the okay to show something that  I did for a movie by a local director.

Check out trailer here. [link]

I'm going to do a kickstarter  for a sculpting project very soon... any of my watchers wanna be backers? I will give awesome rewards for sure..

RAY
LIN

So I've been super busy in the past 2 months. I was working with the awesome shop tech at my museum on my loft. Its  finally done. 10' long x 6' wide x 7.5 high. Now I have my "studio" aka the space underneath it.  Been cranking so much work. Will be preparing to do a massive upload after I do a photo shoot (as soon as I can borrow my friend's DSLR)

Finished
Morbo the news monster 2 months ago.
Kif Kroker 3 weeks ago.
This time I've been using texture A LOT. Never really sculpt aliens but they turned out great.

WIPS now include
Scruffy - insoired by Jim Broadbent for face sculpt.
Fry - worked and reworked) I think I'm finally satisfied?
Zapp - think if Elvis and Young Shatner had an illegitimate love child)
Robot Devil - seriously do you know how hard it is to get straight lines in sculpey?
True Form Midna - Finally decided on a head sculpt that I liked (out of 6 possible heads) she is 1/6th at 12 inches) She is quite... a lovely thing. ahem.

What else...
I've decided to start designing furniture... more to come in the new year.
Jewerly making has taken a backseat since I'm not getting good at using my waxer and its very disheartening.. how does Tim Bruckner make it look soo easy?!

Yes, yes I know, Pictures or it didn't happen. I promise, soon....

Stay tuned!
RAY
LIN

I got schemes and means, my art, my aspirations, my dreams.
The way I sling my prose, an artist life full of highs and lows.
Everyday I hustle. I make moves.

Time to reflect, Sit down and gather my intellect.
To change the game that's been done changed.

To rearrange what you think what you know about this art game.
I flip the script and re-edit the way you perceive what I conceive.
Sketched down in a scribble. Pens himself in a ride packed like tinned sardines.

Day in day out. I make moves with these two hands.
These hands that shape, bend and break.
This art game, Doth any f_cking sense make?

In the footsteps of giants, I make waves.
Remember the name.
I don't want to be the next KAWS or MURAKAMI,
I'm going to be the first RAY LIN

RAY
LIN

[link]

Seems like there is much to be disputed on this page.
Sometimes these things happen.
Now I know that I know what I'm capable of.  
I have to keep on pushing forward.

Thoughts?

RAY
LIN

What a beautiful nightmare.. Now I can go back to my life.

RAY
LIN

I think there's something wrong with me. I have a job, Yet I feel the need to add A LOT more stress and pressure to my life.

[link] I'm entering this contest.
I will be sculpting a 12 inch Anya Stroud and doing a wallpaper out of that.

A fully rendered detailed sculpture in 13 days? Impossible? I know But I have to save 2 days for photoshop.

That means all other projects have to take a back seat until this is completed.

Come on its a chance to win 10,000 dollars, people. Wouldn't you do it?

More on this when I regain sanity.

*edit" Live countdown , today left leg has been completed, face sculpt complete.
I learned something about myself today, I hate sculpting armor under pressure...

*edit* 9/16
Right leg being sculpted.
Hair being sculpted,
Blocking done for chest/torso.
Still hating sculpting under pressure.
*edit* 9/17
Left boot/knee Right boot/Knee front and back sculpted.  Thighs being worked on.
*edit* 9/19
Pelvis articulated with hips, Left and Right thigh being worked on.
*edit* 9/21
Fully articulated abdomen, pelvis and hips.
Everything from the abdomen down to the boots is sculpted.
Belt accessories being sculpted , land mine pack done, grenades being worked on.
Belt being sculpted.
*edit* 9/23
Belt and mines/grenades done, breast plate/backplate being sculpted.
next is arms.

*edit* 9/25
Arms being articulated, hands being sculpted. Backplate being sculpted.
Home stretch.

*edit* 9/27
sculpting hands and now a gun.... on the last day, I must be daft.

RAY
LIN

Time to step my game up. *cue Eye of the Tiger*

So after io9.com and buzzfeed put up my work. I've gotten so much attention for Futurama Series. It was more than I ever could imagine or even hope for.
Even thinkgeek,com tweeted about me!

Now its time to really put it into overdrive and show that I can do it again.  

It just got real.

Stay tuned, You won't be disappointed.  

RAY
LIN

Imagine my surprise to come home and find 6000+ views. and all this...
[link] , [link] , [link] , [link] , [link] , [link] , [link] , [link] . [link] , [link] , [link] , [link] , [link] all this attention. I'm truly humbled... and honored that you all would take time out to share my work all over the internet. (Stamping my name all over everything was a good plan after all! )

(Longish story ahead)

Some people asked me why I'm doing these works. Whether there is a live action movie in the making, or etc.  To be honest, this series of works is a way for me to vent my frustations as an artist and how I'm not being able to be an artist. (I'll explain)
Inspiration comes in all forms and nothing cheers me up more than sitting down and watching Futurama. I know every line from seasons 1 - 4, I digress.

Until last month, I've been really starting to doubt myself and my abilities as an "artist". You may have noticed it only says Ray Lin | Artist | Traditional under my deviantID. Thats because I've never been been paid for my art. Therefore I am not a professional.. yet. In terms of a "career" I've been treading water it seems like.

After I graduated, I found myself getting denied from everything I've applied to(Jeff Koons Studio, Tom Otterness Studio to name names, even small toy companies ) and especially artist residencies and space grants as well as art awards. Some of which include International Sculptors Center (which my professor fronted the $100 for my application fee - and I felt like I let him down), NYFA, Smack Mellon, NARS and Socrates Sculpture Park, all told me basically that I wasn't good enough and that to try again next year. (Which I should, though paying application fees just to be rejected is disheartening.)

With that being said, I was an "artist" without the facility to make what I thought the art I should be making (large scale works). --- Until 2 months ago I visited a friend. He told me that he had to work hard for everything they had and so he did. I was inspired when I came home and I had to prove to myself that I could push forward.

I dug into my moleskin and read over my notes finding a page that I scribbled down was "Futurama Real Life". This is why you see the work you see. I know its probably not what you were expecting to hear, buts that's it.

deviantArt is the only online community that I've been committed to showing my work to and for that I am really grateful for everyone's support and attention.

If you made it to the end of this long rant. I want to thank you once again for taking the time out to look at my work. It really means a lot to me!

Side note: Since I've been getting requests, I'm thinking creating a limited edition run of castings of my work, And  I might be at NYC Comic Con so you can get it signed...
If you are interested, Please shoot me a note. or email at artanis.one@gmail.com

<3
-Ray Lin

[link]

From the minds of creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, bring you the epic tale of the misadventures of the Planet Express crew.

Thanks to their famous exploits and hilarious anecdotes, this artist ( I ) was inspired to create this series of Futurama busts. I wanted to use what I know from classic figurative sculpting and apply my skills toward creating a "detooned" real life version of the Futurama cast.

Coming from a fine arts background, I want to expand into the commercial art market and I thought this was a good way to show my versatility as an artist.

The results are what you see in my gallery, the first few of my series, sculpted by me in 1/3rd scale.

For new works, stay tuned!

-Ray Lin

I've been looking for inspiration. I found it. Never Compromise. Do what you love and the money will follow.
And so,  I'm doing what I have to, to  create new work.
These are the current sculptures I'm working on are (or at least have plans of working on.)

From the Futurama Series: Fry - face done ( though I dont think he looks goofy enough - more of a James dean allure about him right now.. )  / hair next, Amy - face done/ hair next, Zapp - face done / hair next
Midna True Form (Zelda) 11 inch format - Body sculpted.  Paul the Alien  - Head sculpted/ body next..

I was watching  Disney's UP again... I think I'll sculpt Kevin's babies. in Life size. Maybe 7 inches?

Tyrael from Diablo 2/3 is still in preproduction, I'm having trouble thinking of the scale for him... 18 inches would be nioe but at this size it would be difficult to make it afforable to mold and cast him... (That is if I decide to sell him )
Any ideas?

I feel I must keep challenging myself and push my comfort levels... Its the only way I can get better.

Side note: I'm considering opening commissions. But only for the serious buyer. I only offer the best work I can make, which takes time, and dedication. My turn around can be quick, but it will require many many hours on my end ( aka my free time). People have asked me for prices. This is something I cannot give as each project is unique, and I am not a comic book shop that sells collectibles that are mass produced. What I make is unique and professional. You cannot find my work anywhere but from me exclusively.  

Also, people may not realize this, but I, as a sculptor,  have to be able to render the character in 2d well before they start sculpting. This is helps plan the workflow.. I sketch and draw poses before I move on to do the actual sculpting. This all takes time. so before someone goes I'm not paying x for a sculpture. Think about all that goes into it. Molding and casting and sometimes painting. All take time and money.

Rant over
  
-Ray Lin

I'm at a loss for words.. Honestly I didn't expect to get so much positive feedback on my work.  and I've had a smile on my face from ear to ear all day today!

I can't thank Pam Morris enough for featuring my work. [link] is the reason I've gotten 450+ page views in one day and the reason why people are beginning to notice my work.

I'm not sure if I deserve all this attention, but I am grateful for everyone stopping by and taking the time out to look at my work.

All I can say is that, I will continue to produce as much work as I can and share it with everyone here on Deviant art!

-Ray Lin

Apparently it seems to be a given that sculptures are photographed well. If only that were true. (sigh)
After many years I've finally learned to edit my own photos. Not only do I have to worry about making the art, have to light it correctly, and color correct. Most definitely much practice needed but necessary!

A white piece of paper taped to the wall, and a cardboard box = my photography studio.

Shadows? No problem, Bad lighting? No problem,  
Photoshop fixes all..

Out of focus? Take a better photo. Haha

I only just learned how to take good photos recently. As a sculptor it's so rewarding to get good documentation of your work.
Also created a fun logo/watermark for myself.

Soon to be sculpting again..

Ray