Welcome to the twelfth edition of Scenic Route: Voices—a series spotlighting the stories of drivers and enthusiasts from all walks of life. This month, we’re entering the oddly proportioned world of Lincoln Wong. And finding out how a childhood spent playing with toy cars has helped informed his signature style and unexpected rise in popularity.
Give it the works
Words and photos by: Lincoln Wong
In a time when cars are typically getting bigger, I ask, what if the cars were smaller? No screen adjustments needed. What you’re seeing are my miniature cars that I’ve drawn in digital 3D. Despite my love for drawing cars, I’m not an artist by trade. I’m a pediatric radiologist working full-time at a children’s hospital. It was my role as the medical director of the 3D Printing and Advanced Visualizations Lab that helped push me into drawing cars and creating LNCLN WRKS. I needed to learn how to use the 3D software that my hospital uses to view patient models. So, I began drawing toy cars as practice.
Toys are a big inspiration for the LNCLN WRKS aesthetic, I draw heavily from my childhood memories playing with Hot Wheels, Micro Machines, Lego, and Tamiya remote-controlled cars. I would spend hours drawing and sitting on the floor playing with them. I think that’s a big reason why LNCLN WRKS is so popular. My art evokes cherished memories of youth with a love of cars. LNCLN WRKS is a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
If you look at my Instagram portfolio, you’ll see highly detailed miniature-tooned versions of all the greatest hits, from old to new. Modern-day McLarens are given as much love as classic Porsche 911s, and old Land Rovers are posted next to Lewis Hamilton’s latest F1 race car.
I love cars of all kinds. It’s fun to imagine what these cars could look like in “Chibi” style, the Japanese art form of making things chunky and cute.
When I start a project, I draw everything by hand starting with the wheels and tires. I like to focus on the details of the wheels because that inspires me to go in the right direction with the rest of the car.
The basic shape of the car is then sculpted in 3D, and small details are added one by one. Certain shapes and creases are exaggerated to give the car its distinct character that car enthusiasts can instantly recognize. The stance is adjusted, and fenders are massaged to give the car the signature LNCLN WRKS treatment. Paint and glass textures are applied, and for the finishing touch, decals are added.
Applying the decals when the model is done is so evocative of my childhood. I distinctly remember cutting out waterslide decals and putting them on my scale models. That final step made the model look like a real car. The same is true with my digital 3D models. I want people to do a double take when looking at my art and wonder if what they see is a real miniature. It’s especially a treat when I can incorporate personalized details like stickers or a license plate onto the model that make it look like someone’s personal car but in miniature.
I started with my favorite cars from Audi, Porsche, and Land Rover. The downtime of the pandemic accelerated my creative juices and allowed me to expand my portfolio and grow a following on Instagram. I started receiving messages from followers trying to commission me to draw their cars. That was when my little hobby became a small business. Now I’m busy with commissions and selling poster prints of my work on my website, lnclnwrks.com.
Things went to another level when Porsche called. The Middle East division of Porsche was hosting its second annual Icons of Porsche event in Dubai, and they wanted LNCLN WRKS to create artwork to promote the show. In addition to posters, Porsche wanted a life-size model of a 911 safari car I had recently posted on Instagram. I got to work with a sculptor in Dubai to help bring my animated creation to life. The icing on the cake was when Porsche invited me to travel halfway around the world to Dubai to attend the show and participate in a Q&A with other artists.
I was blown away by the generosity shown by Porsche and its support for artists. Seeing my digital art in life-size physical form next to other truly talented artists was incredible and a dream come true. The event marked their unveiling of the 911 Dakar, and I met so many great people, including fellow Porsche artists. It is a memory that I will cherish forever.
Because of LNCLN WRKS, I’ve been able to collaborate with animation studios and video game producers to produce content with my work. My latest collaboration is producing artwork for RADwood. The winners of RADwood’s Mobil 1TM People’s Choice Awards at the 2024 shows are all getting personalized artwork of their car in the LNCLN WRKS style.
I am so grateful for the opportunities that this hobby has provided me. I’ve met amazing people, traveled to amazing places, and collaborated with brands I never thought possible. My art may look small in size, but it’s taken me on big adventures.
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