Kretschmer worked for years in the newspaper industry, but found that he was burnt out, frustrated, and rarely seeing his children. He decided to become an artist in 2013, going to trade shows and holding exhibitions across Europe.
"I wouldn't say I'm famous, but it's enough to live from it," Kretschmer told Insider.
When Austria ordered a lockdown in early March, most of Kretschmer's events and commissions were canceled. He's spent the time at home caring for his two sons, but he needed an outlet for his imagination.
"It was quite a spontaneous thing. I couldn't sleep," he said. "I had too many thoughts in my mind. I just had the idea to make a funny mask and put it on Facebook for some of my friends."