Raymond Kinman has been a full-time, self-taught traditional woodcarver with no formal education. His iconic hand-carved signs for Disney theme parks have become cherished childhood memories for hundreds of millions of fans worldwide. But he didn’t start there. He began with no money, no training, no tools—and no clue what he was doing. In fact, he was 100% convinced he had zero talent for art. Much to his amazement, he eventually found himself working alongside some of the best artists and creative minds in the world at Walt Disney Imagineering. Raymond’s work is often the very first thing guests see at their favorite Disney attractions. Ray’s “failing forward” philosophy invites students to let go of perfection, lean into mistakes, and rediscover the joy of making something real. His classes are part carving, part coaching, and part creative reset—perfect for anyone who always wanted to try but didn’t know where to start. Ray is a legacy Disney artist, woodcarver, and author.