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
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.
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