Eons ago when I was in college (okay, it wasn’t really eons), I would sit in design class and stare in awe through my friend’s sketchbook. Her line work was incredible. Her color choices were always bold and smart. I think it was probably one of the first times I realized that doodles and scribbles can, in fact, be something more than just doodles and scribbles. Her name is Inah Mercedes. Right now, she is working on an ongoing project called “The Sneaker Project.” Friends purchase sneakers for themselves, preferably used, and then she hand illustrates them. The above is the first of many more to come. These Nike’s were purchased at a local thrift store and she used gel pens to draw on them. I’ve loved them since I first saw them.

Related: OKAT‘s Barefoot Sneaker.