Lin learned his art at the Moran School of Bladesmithing at the time it located at the Historic Washington State Park in southwest Arkansas – the place where, in 1830, James Black forged the knife that would make the name Jim Bowie legend. Ranked as a Master Bladesmith in the American Bladesmith Society, Lin sees himself as a historic blacksmith whose work is strongly influenced by the early blacksmith’s philosophy of efficiency of process guided by practicality. In his understanding, this relationship is vitally important to the artist-craftsman in controlling the variables that influence the final product: only a properly organized process can lead to a good product.