Dreamers
When one thinks of Southern California, they automatically envision the beach, extreme sports, and a laid back attitude encompassing fun in the sun. Add a handful of the street life urban culture to that mix, and you get the tattoo styling of Mister Cartoon, whose work could very well be seen on some of the most popular figures around the world. Beginning as just a kid with a love from drawing in his heart, Mister Cartoon turned his passion into an artistic empire. His designs and imagery could be seen on not only tattoos of the rich and famous, but also across all platforms including movies, music, and fashion. And the best thing about the man is that he still stays humble and true to his native Los Angeles roots.
Here are ten interesting facts about Mister Cartoon.
Humble Beginnings
Mister Cartoon was born into a Mexican family in 1970, and grew up in the Harbor area of Los Angeles County. From an early age, he had developed a love and interest in all forms of art. By eight years old, he realized he was a true artist at heart, and went on his first paying art job by the age of twelve. He also dabbled in graffiti art at this time, which allowed him to practice his designing on an even larger scale. During his youth, he also frequently got into trouble with the law, having ended up in jail numerous times due to drugs and other related crimes. However, he decided early on that crime was not for him, and instead utilized the street life image and lifestyle as an expression through his art.
‘Mister Cartoon’ Nickname Origin
Originally born Mark Machado, he earned the nickname Mister Cartoon in high school among close friends. After witnessing his unique drawing capabilities and outgoing personality, his friends began calling him Cartoon, or Toons for short. At first he was hesitant to adopt this nickname. However, little did he know it was going to be a nickname that he would carry on into his adult life and into a successful career. He later added the Mister in front of the Cartoon to sound more sophisticated and older.
Inspiration and Style
Mister Cartoon’s inspirations in the art world are tattoo artists Jack Rudy, Bob Roberts, and Baby Ray. His style is considered to be the legendary “Fineline Style” tattoo art, which was developed in the California prison system and popularized by Jack Rudy in the 1970s.
SA Studio Global Launch
Mister Cartoon always had a passion to excel at everything he was involved in. For this reason, after honing his artistic abilities, he decided to enter the corporate world of logo design and branding. Collaborating with acclaimed photographer and friend Estevan Oriol, he co-founded SA Studio Global, which is a lifestyle-marketing agency based in Los Angeles. SA has partnered with companies like Vans, Nike, Microsoft, Metro PCS, Harley-Davidson, Rockstar Games, and Stussy. They have even entered the filmmaking space, having collaborated with Universal, Fox, and Weinstein Company.
Fashion Collaborations
Mister Cartoon has had many fashion collaborations in the past with reputable and up-and-coming brands. He recently worked with streetwear brand The Hundreds on various items including specialty headwear, T-shirts, and hoodies. These items became available at DesignerCon in November of 2019, eventually hitting the open market soon thereafter. Mister Cartoon has also worked with Nike to make a limited edition Cortez, which have his signature authentic Los Angeles vibe to them, and come in three distinct colors: blue, white, and black. Each shoe has distinct elements hand drawn by Mister Cartoon himself. The latest city edition L.A. Clipper jerseys, which are actually worn during games by the team, were another monumental feat in his career and it’s official unveiling occurred in 2019. He has also ventured into the skateboarding fashion space, designing various items for Vans in celebration of their 15th anniversary.
Joker Brand Clothing
@jokerbrandeurope
The Joker Brand Clothing was started in 1995, and was formed through a business venture collaboration between Mister Cartoon, Estevan Oriol, and B-Real from Cypress Hill. At the time, Mister Cartoon was developing his artistic vision, gaining more experience as a tattoo artist, and gathering ideas for a potential clothing line. After Joker Brand Clothing experienced a successful start in business, it went on to become an internationally known authentic and original streetwear clothing brand, all while maintaining it’s true connection to the streets. The clothing style is all about the west coast urban street culture, featuring many designs straight from the source, like low rider car clubs, graffiti, and skate crews. Joker Brand Clothing is currently headquartered in Hollywood, with Mister Cartoon serving as head designer.
Hip-Hop’s “Official” Tattoo Artist
Because Mister Cartoon has tattooed a lot of the great names in rap, many companies and individuals have called him “hip hop’s official tattoo artist.” Mister Cartoon has had a long history with hip hop, which was first and foremost the soundtrack for his childhood years. As he began to progress from street art to studio art in the early 1990s, he garnered the attention of Eazy-E from the successful rap group NWA. Mister Cartoon was invited to draw portraits and design albums for him, making it his first foray into the music business. He also did tattoo art for the group Cypress Hill, and it was then that his art gained national attention through touring. Mister Cartoon is also a member of the Soul Assassins, which is a group of musicians and graphics artists affiliated to Cypress Hill. The group has released two albums, both of which feature artwork from Mister Cartoon.
Famous People He’s Worked With
@misterctoons
There is an endless list of people that Mister Cartoon has tattooed in the past, and some of the names might actually be quite surprising. His most notable clients include: Kobe Bryant, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Travis Barker, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé Knowles, Travis Scott, and Danny Trejo. Rapper Snoop Dogg has even worked with the artist, getting a large, noticeable tattoo of his wife on his bicep, in celebration of their anniversary.
Eminem Collaboration
While his career had always been on a steady rise, Mister Cartoon’s real fame arrived when he met rapper Eminem. At the time, Eminem was performing at smaller shows, where people would often criticize him for being a “white rapper” in the primarily black hip hop community. Mister Cartoon gained respect for Eminem after he had witnessed the young rapper’s unique rhyming abilities. He was later officially introduced to Eminem through Cypress Hill, and it was then that the two decided to work together on a new tattoo. This particular piece was of Eminem’s daughter Hailey and a car, with the written words “Bonnie and Clyde,” which referenced his hit song of the same name. Since Eminem was a rising star at that time, his tattoos began gracing magazine covers worldwide, making Mister Cartoon a household name in tattoo artistry. Since then, the rapper has continued coming back to receive more tattoos, and even asked Mister Cartoon to design the logo for his record company Shady Records.
Giving Back to the Community
Providing a service to his community is part of Mister Cartoon’s core beliefs and career. He participates in monthly outreach programs where he shares his knowledge with young people, and devotes time to many other community-based initiatives. Mister Cartoon also gives substantially to charity, primarily from his business ventures. For example, 100% of the proceeds from the original Mister Cartoon Air Force 1’s went towards the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fight against cancer.
Loading ...