The evolution of painted goalie masks

[IamNotADancer]

I can't be the only one who finds newer goalie mask designs worse and worse as new techniques and paints enable artists to create their "masterpieces" in a more intricate way.

I remember in the 90's I loved looking at goalie masks and appreciated their simplistic and at times intimidating nature. Nowadays you can barely even make out from a distance what exactly is painted on the masks. You need to get real close and look at the masks for a while to really appreciate the details.

I truly wish goalies would revert to a much more simplistic style and not try to put as much of their story ("I like anime and video games so I'll put it on my mask") as they can possibly fit into it.


Can we have less of this:

And more of this:

Less of this:

And more of this:

I'm not saying that the motives on newer masks are crap, or badly executed but most of the modern masks are just a jumbled mess and resemble more a nascar suits than goalie masks.

Once in a while a goalie comes up with a truly classical and also simplistic look, unfortunately most of the times it's just a one of for the Heritage or Winter Classic and those masks are quickly abandoned after those special events are over.

I wish goalies would stick with one direction and only add minor tweaks to their original design.

Click to read more...

 

[Frenchy]

False Start , i had to delete a few comments , let's try one more time with a more positive approach shall we.

 

[Chrisinroch]

I think the best masks are the modern graphic style done cleanly and simply. DaveArt Gunnarson has the ability to execute those types of masks, but the vast majority of his are overly busy, jumbled messes. Maybe he's just giving goalies what they want, or maybe he leans toward that aesthetic, I don't know. I think they are silly.

By contrast, Sylvie Marsolais designs are much cleaner, with white space that actually makes the "information" pop instead of getting list in the jumble.

 

[Siamese Dream]

Unfortunately with like 90% of the league's goalies now getting DaveArt to do their masks, we're just going to get more of this.

Gone are the days of the simple lengendary and easily recognisable masks like Belfour's eagle and Brodeur's Devils mask. The goalies themselves are mostly to blame for this, these days they seem to want something new every year whereas the goalies of the past seemed to want the same thing throughout their careers, it was part of their image. Lundqvist has kept the Liberty mask theme but with DaveArt it gets messier and messier and less recognisable every year.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I suspect that this is mostly driven by a small number of industry leaders (maybe just one) whose taste and ability sets the trend for everyone.

I'd imagine that these goalies go to someone like DaveArt and sit down for a sort of brainstorming session before he gives them a first cut of the design. During that creative session, he's guiding their thought process and encouraging them to come up with ideas in particular areas. For example, he might be asking them questions like, "which people are most important in your life? What fictional characters best represent you? What jumps to mind when you think of home?"... and then he takes all those answers into consideration when he comes up with the design.

The problem is, Dave Gunnarsson is an artist, not a personal marketing consultant. He's thinking in terms of making a commission on a new and increasingly challenging design each year, because that what pays his bills and keeps competition off his back. His job is NOT to create personal brands for goalies. So he's literally just slapping as much of their information on the mask as possible, based on that preliminary conversation.

So unless a goalie is particularly aesthetic-conscious going into the process, and willing to fight his own artist for a simpler approach, it's unlikely that he'll come out with a Hayward or Brodeur type design. For now, all other influences are working against that kind of outcome.

 

[IamNotADancer]

I think the best masks are the modern graphic style done cleanly and simply. DaveArt Gunnarson has the ability to execute those types of masks, but the vast majority of his are overly busy, jumbled messes. Maybe he's just giving goalies what they want, or maybe he leans toward that aesthetic, I don't know. I think they are silly.

By contrast, Sylvie Marsolais designs are much cleaner, with white space that actually makes the "information" pop instead of getting list in the jumble.

Biggest pet peeve of mine design wise. It seems like "empty space" is like a challenge for most modern designers to fill it rather than to just leave it and, as you said, make the rest of the design pop even more.

Unfortunately with like 90% of the league's goalies now getting DaveArt to do their masks, we're just going to get more of this.

Gone are the days of the simple lengendary and easily recognisable masks like Belfour's eagle and Brodeur's Devils mask. The goalies themselves are mostly to blame for this, these days they seem to want something new every year whereas the goalies of the past seemed to want the same thing throughout their careers, it was part of their image. Lundqvist has kept the Liberty mask theme but with DaveArt it gets messier and messier and less recognisable every year.

Even as a Rangers fan I have to agree that Brodeur's mask was/is absolutely iconic.

I wish Lundqvist would cut back on the liberties he is giving Dave in designing his mask and just stick with the "Tre Kronor/LadyLiberty" design without adding too much noise into the mask (or maybe he isn't giving Dave that much of a free reign in the design, I've seen Henrik sketch out some pretty interesting stuff and maybe the mask is just what he wants)

I suspect that this is mostly driven by a small number of industry leaders (maybe just one) whose taste and ability sets the trend for everyone.

I'd imagine that these goalies go to someone like DaveArt and sit down for a sort of brainstorming session before he gives them a first cut of the design. During that creative session, he's guiding their thought process and encouraging them to come up with ideas in particular areas. For example, he might be asking them questions like, "which people are most important in your life? What fictional characters best represent you? What jumps to mind when you think of home?"... and then he takes all those answers into consideration when he comes up with the design.

The problem is, Dave Gunnarsson is an artist, not a personal marketing consultant. He's thinking in terms of making a commission on a new and increasingly challenging design each year, because that what pays his bills and keeps competition off his back. His job is NOT to create personal brands for goalies. So he's literally just slapping as much of their information on the mask as possible, based on that preliminary conversation.

So unless a goalie is particularly aesthetic-conscious going into the process, and willing to fight his own artist for a simpler approach, it's unlikely that he'll come out with a Hayward or Brodeur type design. For now, all other influences are working against that kind of outcome.

I can easily see this, especially for young goalies that have just been drafted and are overwhelmed with their new found professional lifestyle. The last thing they want is to worry about another thing so in essence they just pawn it off to Dave or any other artist.

I'm sure the design of your goalie mask isn't exactly top priority when you are trying to secure a job.

 

[BLNY]

I'd agree that many of the modern ones are a bit busy. On camera, they can be difficult to make out.

 

[ColdSteel2]

I suspect that this is mostly driven by a small number of industry leaders (maybe just one) whose taste and ability sets the trend for everyone.

I'd imagine that these goalies go to someone like DaveArt and sit down for a sort of brainstorming session before he gives them a first cut of the design. During that creative session, he's guiding their thought process and encouraging them to come up with ideas in particular areas. For example, he might be asking them questions like, "which people are most important in your life? What fictional characters best represent you? What jumps to mind when you think of home?"... and then he takes all those answers into consideration when he comes up with the design.

The problem is, Dave Gunnarsson is an artist, not a personal marketing consultant. He's thinking in terms of making a commission on a new and increasingly challenging design each year, because that what pays his bills and keeps competition off his back. His job is NOT to create personal brands for goalies. So he's literally just slapping as much of their information on the mask as possible, based on that preliminary conversation.

So unless a goalie is particularly aesthetic-conscious going into the process, and willing to fight his own artist for a simpler approach, it's unlikely that he'll come out with a Hayward or Brodeur type design. For now, all other influences are working against that kind of outcome.

Good post, sums up the DaveArt phenomenon quite well. I like some of his effects but yeah, there's no cohesion most of the time.

 

[KingBran]

Jake Allen heard you loud and clear my friend.


CURRENT:

SIMPLE:

SNAKE:

 

[ElysiumAB]

I'd imagine the Dave Art masks would be (in my opinion, as a designer)... vastly improved if someone else did the layout/concept, and Dave did the execution.

I have zero information on the business, but most of the masks are a disaster - even though the art seems to be executed well.

 

[jw2]

Goalies are strange, selfish creatures.

Favorite Star Wars character > team

 

[FrozenJagrt]

The busier the mask gets, the less iconic it becomes. Looking back (with nostalgia I'll admit), the masks of guys like Brodeur, Belfour, Joseph, Potvin, Vanbiesbrouck and Richter of the 90s, further back to Cheevers, Gratton, Dryden, Fuhr... Those masks were to the point, often simplistic, instantly identifiable. Now when I see a mask, I first wonder what the hell I'm looking at, and then after 10 minutes of deciphering, I try to think "What team matches that colour scheme? Who plays for that team? Oh, maybe that's Varlamov"

 

[Sheppy]

 

[Sheppy]

I always loved Felix Potvin's masks.

 

[Cyborg LeClair]

I think it might be mostly because the goalie mask is designed for the goalie, not the fans.

The goalie is staring at the mask all season everytime he gets it out. He wants something that he will enjoy looking at so it's catered to his tastes.

If it was designed by the team and given to the goalie, it would be marketed much more in a way to exemplify the team and marketing the team in a simplistic and clear way.

As someone else said, these goalies hire artists to design the masks, theyre not hiring graphic designers specializing in coming up with a brand for the goalie--a template or icon that they can use for the mask no matter the season or team

 

[Leafidelity]

I think it might be mostly because the goalie mask is designed for the goalie, not the fans.

I think the biggest problem is that the mask is designed for the goalie, not the team.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'd imagine the Dave Art masks would be (in my opinion, as a designer)... vastly improved if someone else did the layout/concept, and Dave did the execution.

I agree. You can tell Dave is a "what CAN I do" guy rather than a "what SHOULD I do" guy.

In fairness, this is probably part of his business model as well. Not every artist can do tiny, photorealistic portraits and come up with proprietary tech. Most artists can paint some straight lines in primary colors. So from Dave's point of view, doing a bunch of simple stuff just makes him part of the crowd and therefore less valuable as an artist.

 

[Esq]

Dave masks are consistently horrible. Some of them are embarrassingly busy.

The 70s and 80s were the golden age of painted masks.

 

[blankall]

I agree. You can tell Dave is a "what CAN I do" guy rather than a "what SHOULD I do" guy.

In fairness, this is probably part of his business model as well. Not every artist can do tiny, photorealistic portraits and come up with proprietary tech. Most artists can paint some straight lines in primary colors. So from Dave's point of view, doing a bunch of simple stuff just makes him part of the crowd and therefore less valuable as an artist.

Not only is his stuff busy, but it has a very Ed Hardy feel, with all the overuse of skulls and wings and other gaudy and unnecessary crap. Can't say I'm a fan generally, but he does hit it out the park with the occasional helmet. Some of his work for Flyers goalies has been especially good. He's at his best when making tasteful and simple tributes. He fails when he puts too many tributes or tries to go the skull and fire route.

 

[Riptide]

All depends on the goalie. I like Murray's mask - and most of the Pens masks over the years to be honest. That first example the OP provided has way too much going on for my tastes.

 

[RobBrown4PM]

Can't stand DaveArts art. He uses way to much highlights and overuses common themes like flares, wings and **** breaking through ****.

 

[El Travo]

They get hardened rubber shot at them at high velocity all game, every game. A mistake can cost a game at any second. Let the goalies have fun with something.

 

[Mayor Bee]

[deleted]

 

[Doctor No]

My personal preference is that you should be able to tell what it's supposed to be from the upper bowl.

 

[Caeldan]

My personal preference is that you should be able to tell what it's supposed to be from the upper bowl.

But then, as you come closer... The real story becomes more apparent #storyteller