For the past several years, Brent Amacker has been the Primary designer for two of Mobile's MARDI GRAS Floatbuilders. Craig Stephens' CARNIVAL ARTISTS and Steve Mussell's MIRTHCO, Inc. have been masterfully shaping the look of MARDI GRAS in Mobile for a while now, and Brent has helped by translating the themes into images in order to present the concept ideas and to provide visual reference for the builders. Though unfortunately YET AGAIN only partially credited in the newspaper, the designs clearly bear Brent's signature. A few years ago he rendered a new float for Mobile, Alabama's only daily newspaper, The Mobile Register (though this also was uncredited), seen below:

It has since been altered to reflect the NEW (Again) moniker "Mobile Press-Register"

BELOW IS THE FIRST FLOAT BRENT EVER DESIGNED, FOR

CARNIVAL ARTISTS AND The ORDER of INCAS, 2002

The figure was a re-tooled "Genie" from a previous "Aladdin" float. Brent's  job for the builders is to envision the existing sculptures and creations to incorporate in the current year's theme, in order to save 'tear-down and rebuild time' for the framers, sculptors, and paint artists.

Order of INCA

2011

This year's Theme: INCA VACATION

AFRICA

ALASKA

BAHAMAS

The BEACH

Dog River

HAWAII

HUNTSVILLE

Las Vegas


NEW YORK CITY


RUSSIA


WASHINGTON, D.C.

Last Year's (2010) Theme: "Two of a Kind"

ALABAMA & auburn

BULL & Matador

Cops & Robbers

Cowboys & Indians

DEATH & TAXES

FIRE & Ice

(featuring Heat Miser & Snow Miser)

Fox & the Hound

Good & Evil

(Original Good & Evil float shown below was an homage to M.C. Escher, and features images from his "Angels & Demons" series. Members didn't like the 'bats', so we changed it to the more traditional design above, which was built and paraded.)

Bait & Tackle or Rod & Reel

Stars & Stripes

STICKS & STONES

YIN & YANG

Order of INCA's 2009 Theme: WARRIORS

CONQUISTADOR

EGYPTIAN ARCHER

GREEK WARRIOR

KNIGHT

Although Brent didn't remember to do this on the above "Egyptian Archer" float, he usually includes the name of the parading 'crew' in heiroglyphics or alphabet signs in the language of whatever  the subject matter. The "Mongul", "Samurai", and "Persian" floats below all display the name "Incas" in the respective languages.

MONGUL WARRIOR

GENERAL PATTON

POLYNESIAN WARRIOR

SAMURAI WARRIOR

VIKING

INCA WARRIOR

PERSIAN ARCHER

New Organization:

SHADOW BARONS

This year, Brent was commissioned by Craig Stephens and Carnival Artists to design a permanent "Flagship" or "Title" emblem float for this parading organization.

The front features a mermaid on the bow, with flowing hair and crashing surf morphing into ornate sculpture. The center is made to represent a galleon, with ornate windows and lighting. The skirt includes crashing waves, a narwhal, and the Mystic Society's Crest.

ORDER of LaSHE's

This Year's Theme: "A Winter Wonderland"

Abominable Snowman

Calvin & Hobbes and the Snowmen

Expedition

Father Christmas

Figure Skating

Winter Olympics

Penguins

Ice Castle, Swan

LaShe's Poster

Last (2010) Year's Theme: "When In Rome"

BATHS

GLADIATOR

MEDUSA

NERO

POMPEII (MT. VESUVIUS)

SENATE

WINE VINEYARD

CHILDREN'S FLORAL Parade

This Year's Theme: "There Be Dragons!"

Dragon Tales

I had initially designed a 'group' float, but this was too much to build:

FIRE DRAGON

Snap-Dragons and Dragonfly

Below are the floats in sequence:

WICKED QUEEN DRAGON

(from Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty')

WIND DRAGON

Last Year's Theme: Tribute to Bellingrath Gardens

Blue Jay Nest

Coca-Cola Connection

The Great Lawn Sun-Dial

The GROTTO

Hummingbird

Koi Pond

Oriental Pagoda

Osprey

Riverboat Ferry

Flower Seeds

Swans

Last Year's(2009) Theme: ROYAL MOMENTS

Future Mardi Gras

"Heavy is the Crown..."

Royal Horn of Plenty

The King Who Reigned

Royal Mantel (Mantle)

Moonpies

Royal Proclamation

Royal FLUSH

"Sceptered Isles"

Royal Train 1

Royal Train 2

Royal Train 3

 SIRENS of the SEA

 The two floats below feature DAN POVENMIRE'S "Herman the Fish" as an homage to the Animator:

 This also features DAN POVENMIRE's "Herman the Fish"

KNIGHTS of ECOR ROUGE

2011 Theme: "A Knight For TOYS"

The 'theme' featured "Classic Toys", and we tried to incorporate as many toys from the actual introduction year of the main figure throughout the rest of the float.

Cabbage Patch Kids

G.I. JOE

HOT WHEELS

Mr. Potato Head

Play-Doh

Tonka Trucks

VIDEO GAMES

LAST Year's Theme:Knights of SOUTHERN ROCK

Allman Brothers

Charlie Daniels Band

ELVIS

LYNYRD SKYNYRD

MOLLY HATCHET

Below is the sculpture of the above drawing with the sculptor, BRIAN EVANS:

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Wet Willie

ZZ TOP

2009 Theme: "Silver Anniversary:History of KOER"

BASIL'S

Silver Anniversary

CHINA

CRAZY 8's

First "HUMMA"

Judge Roy Bean's

KOER History

Burning SANTA

MOBILE MYSTICS

2011 Theme: MYTHS and LEGENDS

ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN

The HYDRA

The KRAKEN

LEPRECHAUNS

MEDUSA

PAUL BUNYAN

The TROJAN HORSE

UFO's

VAMPIRES

2010 Theme: We've Got The BLUES!

Blue Angels

Blue Christmas

Blue Man Group

Blue Oyster Cult

Bluebeard

Blues Brothers

Bailout Blues

Blues Clues

Blues Highway

Smurfs

Mobile Mystics

2009 Theme:We Love These Bars !

Blue Gill Lounge

Callaghan's Irish Pub

Chantilly's

Drifters

THE GARAGE

The Hangout

MARGARITAVILLE

Porky's

WE MISS THESE BARS

Senor FROG's

Veet's

Neptune's Daughters

2011 Theme: Mermaids Sail the Seven Seas

THIS year, the Neptune's Daughters opted to roll with Last Year's Floats, so Brent only designed a new 'Title' Float, shown below:

New Title Float featuring Seahorse Frame

Brent DID, however, design the 2011 Poster:

2010 Theme: One Particular Harbour

Argentine Tango

Cheeseburger in Paradise

CONCHY TONKIN'

Gypsies in the Palace

Margaritaville

Scarlet Begonias

USS ZydecOldsmobile

Will Play For GUMBO

Last Year(2009)'s Theme: LIGHTS!

Blue Lights

CASINO/ NEON LIGHTS

Below is a shot of the above float under construction, before paint:

Christmas Lights

Flashlight

Lighten Up

LIGHTHOUSE

Below is a pic from the Mobile Press-Register of the above float rolling in the parade:

LITE-BRITE

Northern Lights

Here are a few "Under Construction" pics of this one....

MAIDS of JUBILEE

This Year's Theme: "Let's Party!"

Beach Party

Birthday Party

Cruise Ship Party

Fiesta Party!

Holiday Party

MARDI GRAS Party!

ROCK & ROLL PARTY

TAILGATING PARTY

Last Year "Cirque du MOJ"

The Amazing Alexandria

Chinese Acrobats

Circus Train

CLOWNS

Concession Stand

Below is the ORIGINAL Concession Stand design, before we knew they wanted a girl on the front.

ELEPHANTS

Below is the ORIGINAL 'Elephant' float, before we were told they wanted a 'Cirque du European'-style, turn-of-the-century Carnival-type circus.

Lions & Tigers & Bears

Oh, My!

Last Year's Theme: 2009-25th Anniversary

Birth of MOJ's

Children's Fantasies

Diamonds

Life's a Beach

Margaritaville

25th Anniversary

Stars Fell on Alabama

ALL ARTWORK & IMAGES (C) 2011 BRENT AMACKER