The Process of Painting a Goalie Mask

In today’s hockey sport you can see the craziest designs on goalie masks. From simple, clean drawings to lifelike works of art. But how do you turn a white helmet into such a masterpiece?

Since I was a child, designs on goalie masks have been part of goalkeeping for me. I was fascinated by the drawings, portraits and paintings on the helmets and admired both the goalies and the artists. I was always excited about the stories behind the designs. And the fact that an artist could tell these stories on a goalie mask was incredible – and still is today. But what is the effort behind such a paintjob?

First steps to your own goalie mask design

The painting process looks a little different for each artist. Normally a goalie or a team contacts the artist and explains the first thoughts about the imagined design. In this step they also send reference materials to specify the style of design. The artist then creates a concept sketch of the design and discusses it with the customer. Normally this meeting takes place by phone or face to face. Some of the artists also start without a concept sketch because they want to live out their full potential during the painting process. A concept sketch restricts this freedom.

In a next step the goalies send their mask to the artist. A few artists also offer their own goalie masks directly in the shop. They usually have partnerships with the manufacturers and can adapt the masks to the individual head shape of the goalie. When the mask has arrived, the artist strips it down to the bare shell and prepares it for the paint process. In this process, the mask must be sanded so the paint has something to grab onto.

Let the magic happen

Then the magic happens. The artist draws, paints and airbrushes the artwork on the mask. On the painting table he applies the design and free hand portraits. Usually they use templates to pre-draw pictures, logos or letterings. Sometimes it’s hard to explain this process. But watch the following timelapse video and you know what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srjkVgNiGXs

The challenge of painting

One of the most difficult parts is to figure out where the layouts will be placed on the mask. Each goalie mask has its own shape, high spots, low spots and areas that are covered by the strapping and the cage. Because each model is different, some artists only paint specific brands of goalie masks. Another challenge is mixing the ideas of the goalie with the interpretations of the painter. Some goalies have their own visions and maybe created a technical drawing of the final design. Others only give a theme and let the painter “go for it”. Both ways have their advantages and disadvantages. But a good painter knows how to create a story telling design both ways. And that is the part which fascinates me the most. To transform a simple idea into a real story telling goalie mask. This makes each goalie mask special and above all unique.

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Sources
Header
The HockeyWriters
Artistwaves
The Goalie Store