9-year-old gets in trouble for doodling in class, then restaurant offers him decorating job
Remember when you were in school and your teachers told you to stop doodling during class? What would you have thought if you made a career out of it?
That’s exactly what happened to a student who’s come to be known as The Doodle Boy.
Joe Whale, a 9-year-old, couldn’t keep himself from drawing. His teachers scolded him for doodling during his lessons. But Joe’s parents recognized his need for a creative outlet. So, in spite of his teachers’ reprimands, they encouraged him to keep going.
Then, they signed him up for an art class.
It was there that a teacher noticed Joe’s unusual artistic talent. Soon, he was invited to take his doodles out of the classroom. A local restaurant in Shrewsbury, England, wanted him to design their wall.
It’s every child’s dream to have permission to color on the walls. Now Joe would be able to do it professionally.
The restaurant, Number 4, wanted him to draw on the wall of their main dining room.
So, Joe set to work.
“They wanted to get Joe into their restaurant to complete an art piece on their wall, and it was in their main dining area, we were over the moon,” said his father, Greg Whale. “I asked Joe and he, of course, leaped at the chance to do it so we have been going there after school where for a couple of hours a night he’ll put his creativity on their wall. Joe spent about 12 hours illustrating the wall.”
The Whales noticed Joe’s unusual artistic talent when he was very young.
Both he and his identical twin brother Jesse are on the gifted register at their school.
His work at the restaurant is truly eye-catching. A lot of thought and work went into the illustrations. They might be classic doodles, but they’re incredibly creative. The wall features dozens of pictures, including animals, comics, and even an illustration entitled “How to Draw a Cool Dog.”
But it wasn’t Joe’s final project.
In fact, he’s now gained traction on social media with many pages dedicated to his artwork. The internet knows him as The Doodle Boy, which is a perfect title for him.
But his parents have a message for others whose kids are misbehaving in school. Greg Whale says that sometimes, it’s all about finding the right outlet for your child.
“I would advise parents to encourage their children to always follow their passion and dreams — research local workshops or groups within your local community,” he said.
He also said he and the rest of the Whale family are incredibly proud of Joe.
“Joe loves doodling and we’re so proud of everything he’s achieving,” said Whale. “The fact that a completely independent business has asked our 9-year old son to do a professional piece of work for them is incredible.”
It just goes to show that what your teachers call a bad habit could end up being a career.
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