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Mark Machado's Recipe for Recovery - How Mark Machado's passions for art changed his life
By Daniel Casciato
Although he doesn't like to talk much about his past, revolutionary, Latin-American tattoo artist Mark Machado, also known as Mr. Cartoon, admitted experimenting with drugs during high school and was sent to the Los Angeles County (Calif.) Jail twice for two minor run-ins with the law.
These two incarcerations were wake-up calls for him. It was at that point that he decided to stop doing what he described as "really stupid, crazy stuff." When choosing between drugs and art, it was an easy decision for Mr. Cartoon to make. Abandoning drugs and leaving his minor mishaps behind, Cartoon soon became the world's most famous tattoo artist.
Mr. Cartoon, 34, had been drawing his entire life and tattooing was something he eventually grew into, he explained.
Having earned his nickname though his excellent drawing abilities and humorous personality, Cartoon was introduced to design through his rudimentary career as a graffiti artist in the 1980s. His inspirations are Jack Rudy, Bob Roberts and Baby Ray. His style of art, known as "fine-line tattooing," was invented in the California prison system. With no access to colored inks, the prisoners use watered-down black ink to create shadows and depth. This style was popularized on the streets by Rudy in the 1970s.
"My style involves taking the classic low-rider icons and putting my own twist on them." Cartoon said. "I like things that don't go out of style."
Hanging out at Bob Roberts' infamous tattoo shop, "Spotlight Tattoo" on Melrose Place in L.A. led Cartoon to get his own tattoos and eventually to design patterns for other people.
"I hung out at the shop, got tattooed, drew patterns and studied the technical rhythm of tattooing even though it would take years for me to truly understand the skin and machines of the trade." Cartoon said.
He learned how to tattoo from a friend, and when he had improved his technique, he began working with the rap group Cypress Hill. But it was another rap superstar, Eminem, who launched Cartoon's popularity. Take a look at any image of Eminem on a CD cover, music video or in publication, and you'll see Cartoon's work in full display.
Cartoon's body of artwork graces the skin of some of the biggest names in music, including 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Method Man, Nas, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce Knowles.
His illustrations also can be seen on such CD covers as Tony Touch's "The Rican-Struction EP;" Above the Law's "Black Mafia Life;" Hi C's "Sittin in the Park;" Kid Frost's "Eastside Story;" Old School Jam's "Yol. 1;" Cypress Hill's "Los Grandes Exitos en Espanol," "Skull and Bones" and "Stoned Raiders;" Big Red's "Big Redemption" and DJ Muggs' "1200 Squad."
"He's become one of Hollywood's most important celebrities," said Jed Wallace, managing director of MPH PR. "He is an amazing father, husband and inspiration to recovering addicts everywhere."
Cartoon switched from street art to studio art in the early 1990s when he met Eazy-E, founder of the rap group NWA. Cartoon began to draw portraits and design album covers for Eazy-E and other rap and hip-hop bands.
Through Eazy-E, Cartoon met his future business partner, Estevan "Scandalous" Oriol, a photographer and music video director, at a record release party. The duo have gone on to build a booming business that includes tattoo art, magazine illustrations, album covers, automotive art and backdrops for music videos and TV shows. They've also created Joker, a low-rider inspired line of clothing, jewelry and leather goods.
"Between me and Easy-E, we have a formula and feed off each others' artistic energy and business ideas," said Cartoon, describing their success. "It's like a circle of artists here, because that's the only way I can grow."
Cartoon keeps himself very busy these days. He currently is completing a highly anticipated book entitled INK and a movie of the same title to be distributed by Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment and directed by Oriol. Cartoon also designed sneakers for Nike this past fall, and has his own clothing line.
"He's become quite the successful entrepreneur," Wallace said. "Everybody who looks at his tattoo work, may not realize everything that he's accomplished. He's truly an amazing person."
As he contemplates the future, Cartoon said he sees himself and Oriol as the number one employer of street artists, in directing and producing TV commercials, movies and videos, and creating and selling a couple of different clothing lines.
Battling drug addiction takes the courage to change your lifestyle before it becomes too late. Like many others, Cartoon overcame his experimentation with drugs and is living proof to addicts that their lives can be turned around for the better.
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