Whether you want to bring a touch of personality to your equipment, distract your opponent or simply differentiate your equipment, mask customization is an increasingly common trend. Initiated by modern fencing where it is still debated, it was very quickly adopted by HEMA practitioners where the rules are more flexible. We hope this comprehensive tutorial will help you create a lasting and successful customization of your gear.

Rappel : this tutorial shows you how to paint your mask with a detailed pattern using markers and paint. If you want to make a stencil painting with a single color, another tutorial is available

See the simplified tutorial (stencil)

How to paint a fencing mask with acrylic pens

Acrylic markers are very strong pigment markers with several tip sizes.

They can be found online quite easily online

Advantages

• Suitable for simple designs as well as more complex ones.
• Once dry, the design resists well to time and to its sporting use.
• Most brands offer a wide range of colors including metallics in addition to gold and silver as well as different tip diameters.
• The paint dries in one minute and allows the colors to be superimposed without transparency.
• The felt will hold as well on the surface of the grid as on the flap (basic white) or on the leather
• It is possible to erase or rework its design using an old toothbrush and methylated spirits by putting a cloth against the grid from the inside to protect the mask.

NEVER PASS VARNISH ON FELT-PEN DRAWINGS (this eats up the pigments and the drawing is dead)

Drawback :

• it is necessary to apply several coats for light or bright colors such as white, yellow, green or red... mainly for the backgrounds.

Examples of realizations with markers:

The markers are equally suitable for simple or complex and detailed drawings.

Whether you use markers or paint, both can be used to make designs on the bucklers and make a set with the mask.

PS : Special thanks to Freerik Tracy for his advice and photos of his achievements