Graham Smith created these energetic portraits of the folks who test and report the performance of different running shoes for the 2010 Runner's World Fall Shoe Guide.

The original inkings are about 5 -6 inches tall, and the background texture is gouache.

The trick is to NOT draw lots of detail in really small portraits, but to rely on the large, basic shapes to carry the likeness. The shape of the head, the hair, the shape of the mouth, and the relationship to the size of the eyes are key areas to scrutinize while trying to craft simple little portraits.

“I draw quickly and try to resist the urge to go back into the drawings and ‘fix’ things,” explains Graham. “The drawings always seem a bit stale when I do that. It's better to keep the drawings brisk and fresh, than to overwork them with correctness. Funner too!”