A 13-year-old prodigy from UK, Joe Whale, also known as "The Doodle Boy," has recently signed a partnership with sports giant Nike after getting in trouble over doodling in school several times.
Hailing from Shrewsbury, the young illustrator's penchant for doodling manifested itself in his school notebooks and even on classroom whiteboards, leading to frequent reprimands and requests to refocus on his studies.
However, Joe's parents recognized his burgeoning creativity and opted to nurture his talent rather than quash it. They enrolled him in an art class, providing him with the opportunity to further develop his skills.
His art teacher, impressed by his talent, began showcasing Joe's work on Instagram and the then nine-year-old artist was commissioned to adorn a local restaurant in Shrewsbury with his whimsical doodles.
Joe's Instagram following grew, now boasting over 1.72 lakh followers. It wasn't long before his doodles caught the attention of none other than Nike, last year.
Joe, who now stands as a co-creator for Nike, couldn't contain his excitement, proclaiming, "It was one of my dreams."
Speaking with enthusiasm, he shared, "Nike is such a big thing, and there'll be loads of fun stuff coming up soon that I'm really excited for."
Joe is made his debut as an author with the release of "Game of Scones," a children's fiction book featuring his illustrations.
The teen has also collaborated with light artist Andy McKeown for a live event at St. Mary's in Shrewsbury, where his drawings were projected onto the church.
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