Some of my best drawings from when I was kid were of hockey players.  This commission painting of Jaromir Jagr is the first in my hockey series.  It is a pleasure to combine two of my passions. Stay tuned for more hockey paintings, but for now let’s dive into this painting.

Started out by collaging an image to the canvas.

I block out the image I’m going to paint in yellow.

A quick line sketch with pen to get my hand and eye on the same level.

Time to explore the space and let the painting lead the way.

The figure on the right is starting to look like a hockey player.

His gaze was intense and up ice so I added this spiral from his face.

Adding more details to his face and uniform.

The yellow line is what is known as the dasher on the boards.  Was toying around with it as a horizon for a landscape.

I had this Rangers crest on my studio door for a few years and decided it would live a better life in this painting.  Covered by tape for a dramatic unveiling.

Some changes to the background to bring the two figures into balance with one another.

Check out that patch, it looks great in person with the metallic threads and cloth texture.

Time to resolve the negative space around the figures and the patch.  I added some painterly marks to activate the skaters.  A few more finishing touches on the right hand Jagr to make him come alive and the painting is finished.

For the video I selected Metallica because it is one of Jagr’s favorite bands as well as the person who the painting is for.

Next up in the series is a 30 x 30 inch painting of Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Check out the Stanley Cup painting, Lord Stanley’s Castle.