Doodling in class is a time-honored tradition for students looking to pass the time in a dull classroom. While many of us may remember our classroom scribbles, which often included the infamous ‘universal S’ symbol or more elaborate yet juvenile drawings, one young artist’s doodles have led to a significant partnership with Nike for a digital campaign aimed at encouraging children’s creativity.
Meet Joe Whale, a 13-year-old social media sensation known as ‘Doodle Boy.’ In school, Joe frequently found himself reprimanded for his penchant for doodling. However, what began as a classroom diversion eventually transformed into a full-fledged career.
Despite facing lectures in class for his freehand artwork, Joe gained recognition for his illustrations on Instagram, where he now boasts over 166,000 followers. In a remarkable twist of fate, Joe, hailing from Shrewsbury, went on to collaborate with one of the world’s largest sportswear brands, Nike.
Joe’s agency, Loveblood Creative, officially confirmed this unique partnership in a statement released last year. The statement read, “We are so very excited to confirm that Joe is now part of the Nike Family. It really is a unique relationship that puts Joe’s talent and love of sport together to inspire others to have fun and do what they love.”
Joe’s father, Gregory Whale, shared his son’s excitement about joining the Nike Family, stating, “Joe is really excited to join the Nike Family; he absolutely loves the brand. It is a dream come true for him as he loves both sport and creativity, and partnering with Nike will give him the opportunity to embrace both.”
On the official Doodle Boy website, Joe describes his lifelong passion for art, stating, “I have been drawing and painting since the age of three, and art has been a huge part of my life – I would draw, paint, and do crafts at every opportunity, and that hasn’t changed to this day.”
While he reveals a preference for drawing food, monsters, and aliens, Joe emphasizes that his inspiration can come from anything in his surroundings. From burger and fries characters to flowers, vegetables, cakes, and clouds, he transforms everyday objects into whimsical creations.
Joe has a simple rule he follows when it comes to his art: “There is no right or wrong in art, just interpretation.” He cherishes the freedom to express himself through his creations.
The future looks bright for this young prodigy, and who knows what exciting opportunities lie ahead for Joe Whale, the ‘Doodle Boy.’