Behind the scenes with goalie mask artist Dave Gunnarsson

Anthony Gharib, ESPNDec 19, 2023, 07:00 AM ET

Many years ago, moos and oinks filled this bright red barn.

Set in the countryside of Sweden in Sävsjö, it served as an integral part of a farm owned by Swedish artist David Gunnarsson’s grandfather. Now, the barn is the dedicated area where Gunnarsson paints the masks of some of the NHL’s top goaltenders.

He’s set up over a thousand square feet for his painting supplies. Airbrushes and paint dominate spaces where cows and pigs once roamed. He made it clear that there aren’t any animals around while he paints.

“Well, sometimes our dog will come and visit,” Gunnarsson said.

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For the past 27 years, Gunnarsson has played a key role in evolving goalie masks from featureless Jason Voorhees styles into canvases of everything from glow-in-the-dark art to Lego Batman.

His eye-popping and creative designs are unique to the sport of hockey.

Football players are often hidden behind helmets that bear the colors of their respective teams. Custom sneakers or cleats with bright colors are common among major U.S. sports, yet it’s rare for someone to touch them up with drawings.

Gunnarsson is one of the go-to artists who continues to add a fun side to hockey.

“It’s one of those things that you almost feel like a little kid again every time you get to design one,” said Los Angeles Kings goalie Cam Talbot, who has worked with Gunnarsson for 13 years.

Through the years, Gunnarsson has painted for top NHL goalies such as Henrik Lundqvist and Dominik Hasek. In the 2014 Olympic gold-medal match, he designed the masks worn by both goalies: Sweden’s Lundqvist and Canada’s Carey Price. He also recently designed a mask honoring Lundqvist’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

This season, Gunnarsson painted a pixelated Elvis Presley for Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins and mixed 3D and 2D art for a Statue of Liberty-themed mask for New York Rangers star Igor Shesterkin.

Gunnarsson’s designs offer a deeper layer for…

Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39140197/nhl-goalie-mask-artist-gunnarsson-sweden-lundqvist-talbot

Author : Anthony Gharib

Publish date : 2023-12-19 12:02:14

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