From Los Four to Mister Cartoon: the Evolution of Chicano Drawing and How to Learn It

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The theater masks known across lowrider car clubs as smile now cry later masks represent life's duality, stoicism through pain alongside joy in adversity. Beginners can construct them with simple proportions.

Start by drawing two side-by-side vertical ovals tilted slightly inward toward each other. Divide each oval with a vertical centerline and horizontal eye guideline. For the smiling mask on the left, draw upturned crescent eyes and an exaggerated, wide grin curving toward the cheekbones. For the crying mask on the right, invert the mouth with pulled-down corners, angle the eyebrows upward in grief, and add two teardrops rolling down the cheek.

To give both masks depth, sketch an easy bandana drawing step by step across their foreheads:

1. Draw two downward-arching parallel lines across the upper third of both masks to block out a folded cloth knot.
2. Add a teardrop-shaped knot resting directly between the masks, letting two fabric tails fall downward.
3. Sketch soft wrinkles using shallow, curved folds angling toward the center knot.
4. Detail the surface with small, teardrop-shaped paisley patterns, spacing them evenly across the fabric plane.
5. Add deep graphite shadows along the underside of the folds to create the illusion of thick cotton resting against smooth porcelain.