More Mardi Gras Fun Info!

 Well, another Carnival season has come and is almost gone...!
Nice weather and record-setting crowds graced the streets of downtown Mobile for some memorable Mardi Gras parades, making for some true "Bon Temps"...!
 This year, The NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTERS theme was about famous people from Alabama "Stars Fell on Alabama" and featured a float honoring Joe Cain , the man widely recognized as reviving Mardi Gras in Mobile after the "War of Northern Aggression". You can read about him and the holiday set aside in his honor HERE .

 For over 25 years, "Joe Cain as Chief Slacabamarinico" has been portrayed by Reverend Wayne Dean, and, when possible, the sculptors try to give the figure his likeness.

Joe Cain AKA "Chief Slacabamarinico", as portrayed by Reverend Wayne Dean

 Sometimes, this isn't always the case, and the figure will generally more closely resemble the ACTUAL Joe Cain-- based on historical reference and archival photographs.

Neptune's Daughters "Joe Cain" float, designed by Brent Amacker & built by Carnival Artists

"Joe Cain as Chief Slac" bust sculpture. Designed by Brent Amacker, built by Carnival Artists for Neptune's Daughters

Rear view of  "Joe Cain as Chief Slac" sculpture by Carnival Artists for Neptune's Daughters

Detail of Neptune's Daughters "Joe Cain as Chief Slac" figure by Carnival Artists

Heck, I'm even considering making a Comic about the Carnival Mardi Gras Adventures of Chief Slac:

Do you think it would sell...?

Regardless, it's ALL done in the 'Spirit of Mardi Gras', and enjoyed by all!
Lessaiz Le Bon Tempes Roulle!

Evolution of a Poster

 This year, I was commissioned by the legendary Rev. Wayne Dean to create a Mardi Gras poster specifically for the Marshalls of The Order of Polka Dots, a women's Mystic society in Mobile. Rev. Dean, a retired minister, is better known as the portrayer of "Chief Slacabamarinico", the alter-ego persona of Joe Cain, in numerous Mobile Mardi Gras functions for decades!
 The OOP theme was "See You In The Funny Papers", with various historical Comics characters on the floats. The Reverend wanted something in Comics form, with certain elements representing specific icons or memories of the Krewe. I suggested a full-page 'Comic', with individual panels.
 Below is the original 'rough draft', mainly to show placement and contents for approval:

 Initially, I intended to render the entire thing digitally, but thought that it would look more authentic if I drew it by hand. Clean-up & color were then administered after I scanned it into Photoshop.

In the first panel, I wanted to pay homage to the legendary Will Eisner ("The SPIRIT"), and did so by making the title actually a PART of the drawing, incorporating it both into the building AND the beads: 

The other requested elements (specific dates, items) were peppered throughout, and I referred to one of my float drawings for the actual 'float panel':

 

Here is the 'inked' version, and the poster is almost finished:

 The completed version, with color, captions, and added elements:

There are only a few Marshalls for The Order of Polka Dots, so very few copies were made. Just thought you'd like to get a glimpse into my 'process'.

Les le Bon Tempes Roule!