He became famous for his iconic black and grey, fine line-style tattoos that have adorned the bodies of hip-hop artists, rockers and movie stars.
But before he mastered the tattoo gun, Mister Cartoon, who was born Mark Machado, was using compressed air and paint to create his work as an airbrush artist, airbrushing T-shirts at swap meets and later adorning lowrider cars with his art.
To celebrate the artform that gave him his start, Cartoon has gathered some of the most exciting airbrush artists around and curated a new show dubbed “Under Pressure,” which opened at Beyond the Streets & Control Gallery on Nov. 3 and runs through Dec. 23.
“It’s something that’s not really taught in schools. It’s something that’s handed down and this is really celebrating artists that are rising in this artform,” said Cartoon, whose own tattoo and airbrush work has been displayed in fine art galleries around the world.
The show features dozens of pieces by 16 local and international artists who represent the present and future of the artform displaying their eclectic work on canvases. The art ranges from photorealistic images depicting things like street scenes, animals and classic cars to abstract works and script pieces.
“That’s one of the best things about this show. All these artists have unique and individual styles, all highlighting each other. Every style is represented from the hood street style to someone that has been formerly trained in art school,” Cartoon said.
This exhibition is a family affair for Cartoon since he handed down his talent to his young son, whose work will be included in the exhibition.
“I’m truly honored to curate this show and it’s even more amazing to have my boy in it,” Cartoon said. “He’s a great kid and he puts the hours in. It’s the time behind the scenes that counts.”
His 19-year-old son, Estevan Machado, who paints under the name Left-E, draws his distinct style and inspiration from the work of his…
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