Illustrator Sergio Ingravalle created this intricate series of illustrations for ESPN The Magazine. Ingravalle used pencil, watercolor and ink to bring these two-dimensional NFL players to life and then applied a dose of digital editing to really drive home the effects.

Football is gritty, intense and brutal sport. Emotions run high every time the players take the field. With careful splashes of color and plenty of sharp lines, these illustrations manage to capture the intensity of the athletes in a unique and enchanting way.

According to Ingravalle, whose work shows a strong focus on dynamic sport illustrations, the goal of this series was “to lend movement to the static images and underline the energy of the sport.”

To see more of Ingravalle’s work, check out his Directory of Illustration portfolio.