Sunday, September 30, 2012

Jonathan Quick 2012-13 Retro Mask

Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings (born Jan. 21, 1986 in Milford, CT.)

Artist: Steve Nash of Eyecandyair
Article here.




Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Mike McKenna 2012-13 Mask

Mike McKenna of the Peoria Rivermen/St. Louis Blues (born April 11, 1983 in St. Louis, MO.)

Artist: David Gunnarsson

Mike wrote about his mask at InGoal Magazine.



I requested the Bluenote as large as possible on one side of the mask, with the famous Gateway Arch and St. Louis skyline sketched within...


Obviously the Bluenote is the most iconic image of the team, and Dave’s original idea had it on both sides of the mask. And while I liked the idea as well, I also knew that Jake Allen’s 2012 mask was going to prominently feature the Bluenote on both sides. Several others had done it in the past, too. So I decided to go in a different direction, requesting the Blues script logo on the opposite side.


My other request was to include the Fleur-de-lis on the chin of the mask: this symbol is the focal point of the St. Louis flag, which also includes several converging stripes representing the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Dave did a fantastic job of artistically transferring the spirit of the St. Louis flag onto the chin of the mask in Blues colors.

As usual, Dave included many little details in the design of the mask, but my favorite is the inclusion of a Clydesdale on the side of the mask. For those who may not know, Budweiser is based in St. Louis and utilizes this breed of horse in many of its promotional endeavors. Seeing the Budweiser Clydesdales hitched to the wagon in full regalia is an image near and dear to every St. Louisan's heart, one that I felt deserved to be included in the mask. Initially I feared the Clydesdales might make the design too busy, but Dave found a cool, subtle way to include them and I couldn’t be happier!

The rest of the mask is simply an extension of previous designs. Initially inspired by former IRL driver Jeff Ward’s racing helmet, this basic design helps convey my passion for racing and is transferable to any team: all I have to do is shift the colors around.

...the backplate is the part of the mask I feel most comfortable with having a few personal tributes.

 
People often ask about the “smiley halo guy”: he doesn’t have a name, but he is my little mascot. As you can see from his raised left hand, he’s a happy metalhead just like me. He also has a Saint’s halo, which is a tribute to my school, St. Lawrence University, where I was a Skating Saint. While creating him in high school, I blatantly ripped off a skateboard company called World Industries, whose mascot at the time was a smiley-faced cartoon nicknamed Devil Man.

Other features on the backplate include an American and checkered flag, as well as two M’s joined together; another little design I came up with in high school. The reasoning behind the flags should be obvious: I’m an American and I love racing.

New to this year’s mask is the inclusion of my amateur team’s logo: the Kirkwood Stars.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Robin Lehner 2012-13 Mask

Robin Lehner of the Ottawa Senators (born July 24, 1991 in Gothenburg, Sweden.)

Artist: David Gunnarsson

Lehner wore 2 different masks this season.


From the artist:

We wanted to create an unpleasant dark feeling and a violent look, a look never seen on a mask before... We wanted to create the scary feeling you have after waking up after a nightmare... We came up with a plan with a design that creates a new look no matter which angle you look at the mask, with a matte finish.






Al Montoya 2012-13 Mask

Al Montoya of the Winnipeg Jets (born Feb 13, 1985 in Chicago, IL.)

Artist: Ray Bishop










From InGoal Magazine



Thursday, September 20, 2012

Viktor Fasth 2012-13 Mask

Viktor Fasth of the Anaheim Ducks (born Aug 8, 1982 in Kalix, Sweden)

Artist: David Gunnarsson

Viktor Fasth might have the record for the most masks so far in this short season. David Gunnarsson unveiled a new mask in early March, Mr. Bane Duck.

With this Anaheim Ducks mask on Viktor is transformed into a badass Duck, just as on his previous Ducks masks,” Gunnarsson wrote on his Facebook Page. “On those masks the duck used an old school mask … Now he have removed the old school mask, and put on the cruelest mask ever, the Bane mask! 







In February 2013 Dave introduced a new version of Viktor's Freaky Duck Mask...pretty similar to the one in September, but a few changes here and there.

Article found here.




This is a recent photo of his mask, but you'll note the cage is all white now.






Below is the mask he began the season with.


With this mask on, Viktor transforms into Mr Freaky Duck Goalie….!

His head turns into a duck head, and it is a real badass duck, and a goalie duck… :-) As you can see he wears an old school Ducks mask, but the mask is totally shot into pieces... The duck even has a bad swelling on the top of his head after all the hits... and a tooth is flying, and much, much more... I love to create details. :-)

I´ve been painting for Viktor for more than a decade, and the new mask is very different from what me and Viktor have done before, but not in one way…. cause this new mask is back to basic, a continuation of the very first mask I painted for Viktor... I remember it very well, it was back in the 90s, I had my shop in my mom and dad´s house in Norra Ljunga, and Viktor was a young kid goalie and he and his father came to me with his mask. Then we transformed the mask into a badass wolverine... :-) Viktor, it´s awesome to paint for you, good luck in the NHL!






 


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Michal Neuvirth 2012-13 Mask

Michal Neuvirth of the Washington Capitals (born March 23, 1988 in Usti Labem, Czech Republic.)



Artist: David Gunnarsson 
The left side of the mask is a tribute to his home country Czech Republic. He also wanted to pay tribute to famous goalies, so here you find the Czech goalie legend Holecek. And just as before the Strekov Castle from his hometown and the Hradcany Prague Castle and more.
The right side is a tribute to his new home country and in particular his new hometown Washington DC. The classic goalie he wanted to pay tribute to here is the Caps legend Kolzig, and of course you also find the old school Caps logo, and much more.
The red and white check pattern on the chin is also a tribute to the Czech flag.







Matt Hackett 2012-13 Mask

Matt Hackett of the Houston Aeros/Minnesota Wild (born March 7, 1990 in London, ON.)

Artist: David Gunnarsson