Be A Super Hero!!! ... to the Blank Station

I have such a soft spot in my heart for Blankman

As a kid, my family wasn't rich, and I obsessed about the 1966 Batman tv show (the sci-fi channel played it in the mornings before school started). But when Blankman came to theaters, i was watching an average person try to be super hero without Batman's millions, and it was awesome! Damon Wayans brings the character of Blankman to life in a relatable positive light, as Blankman just wants to make a difference.

If you haven't watched Blankman, i strongly recommend you rent it on iTunes or Netflix. It's hysterical and pays its respect to the classic Batman tv series that came before it. Did I mention how funny this movie is? (when Blankman screams like a girl after getting slapped still gets me every time).

After watching the movie this month, I got to doodling, and what was going to be a quick little sketch turned into a full illustration. Eventually, I ha a full fledge poster layout full of 60's pop colors. It wasn't until last night that I realized in August it was the 20th anniversary oof the movie!  What a crazy coincidence and really happy at the turn of events!

Hope you all like it!

Can't Make the Scene, If You Don't Have the Green!!! - The Mask 20th Anniversary Print

I am Stanley Ipkiss...


well, I was him, for a very long time. When the Mask came out in July of 1994, Stanley Ipkiss was me in grammar school. I was shy, picked on, a hopeless romantic with a love for cartoons. Always quiet, I never got the girl but always desperately wanted to. At 10 years old I felt I was watching myself on screen, letting my imagination run wild as the Mask doing everything I've ever wanted, it was all there.

Afterward, I started wearing my own figurative "Mask" whenever I needed a boost of confidence as a kid. When it came to talking to girls, showing a little backbone or just being social, I'd change my personality and stopped being the quiet shy guy. The Mask encouraged me to snap out of my shyness and I like to think that even now I still wear that Mask from time to time.

It was only very recent that I realized the movie was approaching its 20th anniversary in July, which also happens to be my Birthday. So to celebrate these 2 awesome events I designed a print that captures everything about the movie that I love.

It took me a while to think of a great layout, but thankfully i was inspired to design a coco-bongo flyer for the club. I really like the art nouveau style i've seen online and wanted to try something different I thought would work.

Looking at the design, I hope "kid" me would've really gotten a kick of seeing this. I hope at some point I'll have an opportunity to meet Jim Carrey and give him a poster in person. He is still my hero....


The Mask turns 20 years old, I'm turning 30, and I'm happy to mark this milestone by celebrating a movie that encourage me to be different.

S'mokin'...

-Mauro

"Le Masque" - digital painting test of "The Mask"

Sometimes I get an itch to paint and it eats at me until i finally put stylus to tablet and bring it to life.
such is the case with this painting. I hadn't plan on doing this as I was working on another piece about the Mask already. But unfortunately my mind had already started sketching & doing layouts until finally i sat down and painted it.

I wanted to make this a French style caricature- esque design. I love the Mask's suit and how it can be very angular and I wanted to exaggerate it here, kinda like Tex Avery. Tinas hair was a nightmare, I'm really pushing myself more and more to draw more details and I really pushed it with the hair. I must have re drawn it 20 times and I like the way it came out.

Hope you all like it!

Also, the Mask turns 20 this month so go stream it or buy it because its fantastic!

-Mauro