MOBILE MYSTICS "Salute Our Heroes"

The MOBILE MYSTICS Parade takes to the streets today to SALUTE OUR HEROES, with a bevy of floats designed by Brent Amacker and built by Craig Stephens and CARNIVAL ARTISTS.
Here are the float design drawings:

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "ARMY" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "CHUCK NORRIS" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "DALE EARNHARDT" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "DOCTORS" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "FIREMAN" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "MARIO BROS" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "NAVY" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "LAW ENFORCEMENT" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics SALUTE OUR HEROES "SUPERMAN" float design by Brent Amacker

Float built by Carnival Artists

A Few Mobile Mystics Floats

The Mobile Mystics celebrate their 25th Anniversary tonight, are parading right now-- as I type-- and, due to past computer issues, I was unable to save clear images of all of the float drawings.

Their theme is "Silver Anniversary", featuring silver-related subjects 

Mobile Mystics "SILVER SCREEN" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "SILVER BACK" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

The SILVER BULLET float features a werewolf (vulnerable to Silver bullets), a Silver Bullet being fired by the Lone Ranger, Coors Light-in-a-can (commonly referred to as silver bullets), and the logo of The Silver Bullet Band:

Mobile Mystics "SILVER BULLET" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "SILVER STAR" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "SILVER STREAK" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "SILVER SURFER" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "MERCURY" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "SILVER BELLS" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Purchase ORIGINAL Mard Gras Artwork!

Now you can own an ORIGINAL piece of Mardi Gras!
You can bid on the original hand-drawn line-art used by the Mobile Mystics for their 2017 Poster!
Check it out HERE !

2017 Mobile Mystics Parade Float Drawings

The MOBILE MYSTICS paraded this afternoon and, as always, I am posting design roughs and finished drawings. Designed by Yours Truly and built by Carnival Artists.
This year's ball and parade theme was "When I Grow Up".

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up" Rough Float Sketches by Brent Amacker 

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up" Rough Float Sketches by Brent Amacker 

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up" Rough Float Sketches by Brent Amacker 

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up" Rough Float Sketches by Brent Amacker 

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Astronaut" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Cowboy" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Olympic Athlete" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Pirate" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Coast Guard" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Quarterback" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Race Car Driver" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Rock Star" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Fireman" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics "When I Grow Up: Zookeeper" Float drawing by Brent Amacker

Progression of a Poster

 I was commissioned to design this year's Poster for The MOBILE MYSTICS, to correlate with their Tableau Theme of "When I Grow Up". The request was for a 60s-Hippie-Rock Concert-style look.
The MYSTICS wanted some psychedelic warp text and acid-rock color.
After receiving some reference pics (and already knowing the float lineup), I went to work utilizing the requested design elements. Admiral Raphael Semmes was specifically designated as the central focus.
 Below is the initial 'thumbnail rough' used for design approval and to exemplify intent:

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Rough by Brent Amacker

 After some discussion, the design was okayed, and I proceeded. I started with a grid, for symmetry and balance.

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Then, I began to complete composition and start tightening up pencils & inking, incorporating the individual 'Float Themes'....

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

 I utilized several different 'retro' font styles to keep the design spontaneous.

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Progression by Brent Amacker

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster B&W by Brent Amacker

Below, you can see the finished, colored product: 

Mobile Mystics 2017 Poster Color by Brent Amacker

2016 MOBILE MYSTICS Parade

The MOBILE MYSTICS rolled yesterday (Saturday) under clear, sunny skies to miles and miles of revelry and in front of thousands of people. One could not ask for a better parade-viewing venue!
Here are yesterday's "I LOVE the 80s" float drawings, designed by ME and built by Craig Stephens and CARNIVAL ARTISTS.

Mobile Mystics "A-Team" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "APPLE MAC" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "BATMAN Movie" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "MTV" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "80s TECH" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "TOP GUN" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "A-Team" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "VIDEO GAMES" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists

Mobile Mystics "ZZ TOP" float by Brent Amacker for Carnival Artists