He initially lived and worked in Florida and California in the United States before developing an interest in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, inspired by artists such as Paul Gauguin and José Miguel Covarrubias.

Though he planned to travel to Tahiti, his journey took him to Hawaii, Japan, and Cambodia, where he was a guest of honor of Prince Norodom Sihanouk.

Blanco received numerous awards, including the Tiffany Fellowship from The Society of Honolulu Artists, the Chevalier du Sahametrai of Cambodia, recognition from the Society of Painters of Fine Art Quality under President Sukarno, and the Prize of the Art Critique in Spain.

He was also awarded the Order of Cruz de Caballero by King Juan Carlos I of Spain, granting him the title of "Don."

Blanco died on December 10, 1999, in Denpasar, Bali, from heart and kidney disease, survived by his wife and four children: Cempaka, Mario, Orchid, and Mahadewi.