Hockey is a very popular sport these days. There are many stores and supermarkets selling hockey equipment such as helmets, gloves, and jerseys, and the sales increase each year. It is not surprising that more and more people are getting into hockey, given the simple fact that it is one of the most stimulating sports out there. While the rules may seem complicated at first, they are actually very easy to learn and follow once you get used to them. After all, the simpler the better when it comes to sports!
If you are looking to buy some hockey equipment or are just planning to become a spectator, then it is important to know how to draw a hockey goal. Keep reading for some helpful tips on how to draw a hockey goal step by step.
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The Four Goals And Their Different Sizes
There are four important things to remember when drawing a hockey goal: the dimensions, the placement, the depth, and the perspective. For the most part, artists often forget about the last one, but it is essential to understanding the three-dimensional appearance of a hockey goal. The first two are fairly easy to remember while the last one is something that you need to keep in mind each time you draw a hockey goal.
The Dimensions
In order to properly draw a hockey goal, you need to start with the basics: dimensions. The dimensions of a hockey goal are fairly easy to figure out: it is 7.62 feet (2.33m) from the center of the ice to the net and 5.08 feet (1.58m) from the front of the net to the back wall. A lot of space is reserved in between for moving around and space to shoot the puck. Behind the net there is also a little space reserved for the goalie to move around in.
The top of the net is at roughly 15.24 feet (4.69m) above the floor and the back wall is at roughly 10.16 feet (3.01m) above the floor. That is a significant height difference! It is important to remember that these numbers can vary from arena to arena and from rink to rink, but they will never change. If you want to properly draw a hockey goal, then you need to make sure that you know its dimensions before beginning your project.
As for the width of a hockey goal, it varies from 10.08 feet (3.01m) to 12.95 feet (3.93m), so it is important to give the artist some leeway when it comes to this. When it comes to the height of the back wall and the height of the top of the net, there is generally no variation from one arena to another, but the width can vary quite a bit. This is all assuming, of course, that you are drawing a regulation hockey goal, which means that it is 7.62 feet (2.33m) wide.
The Placement
Another important thing to consider when drawing a hockey goal is where you intend to place it in relation to the rest of the arena. The first two are fairly easy to remember while the last one is something that you need to keep in mind each time you draw a goal:
- Center ice – If you are drawing a hockey game for television, then you will most likely have to place the goal in the center ice. Most arenas have a circle with boards around it where the puck can be played on. In these cases, the center ice placement is quite easy – just make sure that at least part of the goal is visible.
- Above the circle – If you are not working for television, then you can position your goal above the rest of the arena. This means that there will be no center ice and the boards will be completely out of the picture. This type of goal is quite simple to draw as well, but you will need to be careful when it comes to the placement, as there is already a lot of space above the rink. You cannot put too much there as it will block out the light.
- On the sides – If you are fortunate enough to be able to position your goal on the sides of the rink, then you will have an entire wall to work with instead of just two boards around the circle.
The Depth
The depth of a hockey goal is quite interesting, as there is space behind the net and next to the back wall. This means that there is a significant amount of space to work with and you can put in a lot of details without it looking like a cluttered mess. This is a great way to show how complicated hockey goal art can look, but it is also quite simple to do. When it comes to the depth of a hockey goal, simply remember these numbers:
- 6.35 feet (1.93m)
- 5.08 feet (1.58m)
- 4.69 feet (1.33m)
- 3.01 feet (0.91m)
- 1.93 feet (0.66m)
- 0.91 feet (0.33m)
These numbers represent the depth that can be placed behind the back wall without it being blocked by the top of the net. It is quite remarkable how much room there is behind a modern hockey goal, but it also makes the sport’s playing surface look quite small. This is why it is important to remember the depth when setting up the shot, as you will block out a lot of the playing surface area.
The Perspective
The perspective of a hockey goal is also quite interesting, as you can see a lot of the arena’s architectural elements from different angles. This gives you a three-dimensional look at what is going on and it helps bring the arena to life. It is quite easy to forget about perspective when you are drawing a hockey goal, as it does not affect how the actual goal looks like, but it is quite important when it comes to illustrating the three-dimensionality of a space. This is all assuming, of course, that you are not purposely drawing something that looks like it is hovering above the ice or has holographic effects.
When it comes to the dimensions, placement, and perspective of a hockey goal, quite often artists will use a template, especially when working from photographs. A template is simply a scale model of the arena where the goal will be played in, so that everything is measured and laid out accurately. This can be quite helpful when getting the proportions right. Perspective is quite often determined by how far the goal is from the viewer, so you can place yourself in the right spot and see everything clearly. This can help a lot when drawing a goal, as all of a sudden, everything makes sense and you do not have to keep moving around to see what you are doing.
As for the depth of the hockey goal, this is quite hard to explain, as it is quite apparent once you have seen a completed example. It is important to remember that while there is a lot of space behind the net, it is quite shallow compared to how much room there is above. This is why it is so important to keep the depth in mind each time you set up a shot, as you will never know how much room there is behind you until you have actually placed something there. It is also important to remember that the farther back you push the wall, the less room there is above and below the surface – it is quite similar to the space in the armpit of a person.
Once you have everything set, it is time to add more details. There is no real rush to finish a hockey goal, as it takes time to fully understand all of the proportions and details. Once you get the hang of it, then it is quite simple and enjoyable to continue adding more details. This is quite a fun process and can be quite therapeutic as well. It is important to remember that whatever you do, the proportions will never change: 7.62 feet (2.33m) from the center of the rink to the back wall, 5.08 feet (1.58m) from the front of the net to the back wall, and 3.01 feet (0.91m) from the top of the net to the floor. These will always remain the same, no matter if you are drawing a full-sized version or a miniature one.