The evolution of painted goalie masks

[Bougieman]

I really agree with the OP. I think 95% of the time you see a goalie, even watching on TV, it's from fairly far away. You want a mask that is going to "read" well from that distance. A simple design is much better for that -- something where shapes and colors are blocked out in a way that is visible and impressive from a distance. Incredibly intricate and highly detailed paint jobs look like a whole lot of nothing from far away.

 

[Binary Code]

So when will skaters be able to customize their helmet?

But seriously I agree why do you need a cartoon character painted on your mask? Honestly the masks made by EA on their NHL games are better ..

 

[darcyRegier]

Not sure if he still wears it but Corey Crawford's mask from 1-2 years ago was pretty sweet

 

[boredmale]

Goalies should go back to these masks

 

[dookers9]

Goalies should go back to these masks

With shot velocity ever-increasing, I can't imagine that a bit of plaster strapped to their faces is going to satisfy the goalies that have to face the shots and wear the plaster.

 

[Bakayoko Ono]

 

[Esq]

So when will skaters be able to customize their helmet?

But seriously I agree why do you need a cartoon character painted on your mask? Honestly the masks made by EA on their NHL games are better ..

Actually I liked this one.

 

[McMatthews]

By far the most gorgeous goalie mask in the history of the sport.

 

[KapG]

I like this one

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

Not sure if he still wears it but Corey Crawford's mask from 1-2 years ago was pretty sweet

His design is easily one of the best IMO.

 

[Street Hawk]

What made goalie masks from the 90's great was that the goalie wore it for years. Potvin keep the same style, even when he was in Vancouver, LA, Boston. He just changed up the colour. Same with Belfour. He kept the 2 Eagles while in Chicago, Dallas, and Toronto. Roy's mask in Montreal had the Habs logo on the forehead, and in Colorado, it was the rocky mountains.

Brodeur kept the same mask throughout his career.

Nowadays, goalies change their paint job every year it seems.

 

[DustyMartellaughs]

Goalies are crazy, and Dave's paint jobs are Rohrshact tests. They're clearly seeing something we're not to be okay with putting those cluttered messes on their heads.

 

[SUBdrewgANS]

I've said it before. Goalies are not artists, aside from a few (Hiller being one of them). I very much doubt they give any type of direction to Dave, they just say "Hey I like this, this, this, and this. Put it on a mask" and Dave does HIS thing.

The rare occurrence that Daveart makes a decent mask, I bet the goalie has a lot more say in it.

As a graphic designer Dave is very talented, but it reminds me of work of a graphic design student coming out of college and hasn't learned to edit down.

 

[bigwillie]

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.

This is a phenomenal post. Thank you. I've always hated DaveArt's designs but this puts it in a much more understandable context.

 

[Yog S'loth]

Totally agree with the OP.

It's why I like Quick's masks so much:

Helms.

You get a helm.

And they're lovely.

 

[ujju2]

Personally, I disagree. Maybe it's because the simpler masks are before my lifetime, but I love the new style. Some masks are too busy, I agree, but some are perfect.

 

[ujju2]

Totally agree with the OP.

It's why I like Quick's masks so much:

Helms.

You get a helm.

And they're lovely.

This, imo, doesn't count as a simple mask. The artwork is quite detailed.

 

[dre2112]

This, imo, doesn't count as a simple mask. The artwork is quite detailed.

but the thought behind it is quite simple (knight's mask). It's one idea. Not 600 different little things sprinkled throughout the mask with lightning and glow in the dark FX and glitter with hidden text.

 

[Mattilaus]

Came here to post this. Love the classic Beezer.

 

[yukoner88]

This, imo, doesn't count as a simple mask. The artwork is quite detailed.

think of Curtis Joseph. His angry dog masks had a fair bit of detail in them, but much like what dre2112 said, its one concept, and it was consistent throughout his career. Only thing that changed were the colours to match the teams he played with. His masks were always ****ing awesome

 

[Lunatik]

this is my favorite mask of all-time

 

[SUBdrewgANS]

JV had awesome masks

 

[ElysiumAB]

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.

I don't follow hockey masks, aside from knowing a lot of them are by Dave Art. I don't have any interest in motorcycles aside from what I casually see on tv or what not...

but one of my first thoughts when seeing the Dave Art work is that it reminds me of the Orange County Choppers stuff I've seen on tv.

Too busy, too much clunky work strapped on in places it doesn't belong from an artistic or aesthetic standpoint. There's no elegance or grace or rhythm. Might as well load a shotgun with themed clip art and team colors and fire it at a canvas.

Ironically, I've seen some fantastic paint jobs on motorcycles and wondered why hockey masks aren't pulling off something similar.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[Hackett]

To, me the most interesting masks are the cheevers style ones. We won't get those back for obvious reasons, but they just looked eery and interesting.... Whether they have designs on them or not.