January 30, 2006

51: The Most Glamourous Position In Hockey

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In the olden days
, NHL goalies were the players who couldn't skate as well, the ones who were a bit chubby or slow on the uptake. Not so anymore. Goalies are now the ultimate athletes on any team – the most flexible, the most acute and aware. There is sparse glamour in the modern game, but on any given night a goalie can (both literally and figuratively) stand on his head and steal a win. The other day I watched a recap of a 7-1 game, and the standout highlight was a phenomenal diving save – by the losing goalie.


For this week's Illustration Friday I've flip-flopped the theme (glamour) and created an entirely unglamorous homage to the helmetless, chain-smoking goalie of old. The initial sketchwork was done on Sunday in pen and pencil. A wash of colour – as well as border textures and some minor surgery (this was not the sketch's original face) – was completed in Photoshop Monday night. Click here for a closer look at the detail. And as always, let me know what you think.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like your flip-flop! The colour hits you and is the same colour associated with glamour plus bruises :)

Queen Tut said...

Very nice, I like the texture you have created.

Rectite23 said...

I love the colors and I love Hockey! Great illo!

Radha a.k.a Ratlion said...

Love the choice of colour...makes the unglamourous just a lil' glamourous :)

lew! said...

are you talking about the dive from the Pittsburgh goalie?
That was somthing wasn't it?

it has been great the last 3 weekends on saturday watching a Wings game. I forgot how much i missed watching hockey.
No one in Chicago cares enough about the Hawks for them to be on TV. Which is too bad for one of the originals - i'd watch!

Them old goalies - not the best athletes but man you gotta be a brute to take a puck to the face with outta mask. Yikes!

Nice Illo Jeope. It's very discouroging to know you just crank 'em out in a a few hours.

devon spec said...

yer the meaning to my life... yer mah inspiraaaaation!!!!!

erm something.... lalalala!!!!

nice boss.

Jeope said...

That Chicago team is in such disarray - anyone in the know up here shakes their head at Hawks management.

For the record: sketching took about three hours, the PS work about three more (mostly because I wasn't sure where I was headed with it, colour-wise).

Thanks folks ... and Devon ...

carla said...

He looks a bit like Dr. Frankenstein's monster! I like the way you turned the topic around...and i love the color and texture. I also love that you say "olden days" - one of my favorite exxpressions...but then again, that's from whence I come:> Nice work Jeope!

Mary said...

hehehe that is awesome :)

Courtney Pippin-Mathur said...

great idea, love your lines and the purple is delicious.

Allan Lorde said...

Tight as always, man. I love the crooked and knotted stick. And those colors are great!

Melissa said...

Geez, could you stop being so dang awesome?? Just for a minute? Post something crappy next time please. Very impressive, as usual. Pffft.

Joe said...

Great idea! I love the colour and his expreshion! Would make a great pic. for a slap shot artical!

Lily and Lucy White said...

That is soooo funny. Glamorous indeed. Great illo, just great!
Read more of your blog, sorry about your house. Lily.

Mrs. Maria said...

You wanna know what I think... I think it fudging stinks! < insert wet sponge face here >

No really could you do any better! You're awesome J-man.... just awesome!!! :)

Hellcat said...

I like how manic chocalat princess is and think bruises are very glam on OTHER people };-}

milo said...

I LOVE THIS!!!
so well rendered! can't wait to see more.