Remember that boy who was always in trouble for drawing in school? Nike signed a deal with the same boy who can create amazing drawings.
Joe Whale, 12, better known as “The Doodle Boy” on social media, first went viral when a local restaurant in his hometown of Shrewsbury, England, United Kingdom, hired him to decorate their dining area.
Since then, Joe has worked with many businesses and also created his own website where he sells merchandise. His agency revealed that Joe was a Nike co-creator and may have just landed his biggest deal yet.
The company has yet to announce exactly what he will be working on, but they shared that he would be illustrating “on some special projects.”
Joe and his family are thrilled to have a partnership with the sportswear company.
“This is one of my dreams,” he said. “Nike is such a big thing and there’ll be loads of fun stuff coming up soon that I’m really excited for. I keep telling myself to do what I love, do what is important to me, and doodle. It feels great. I’m really proud of myself.”
Joe began drawing at the age of six. After getting in trouble at school for drawing in class classes, Joe’s parents sent him to an after-school club for art.
After his art teacher posted his doodles to Instagram, his work quickly gained attention online.
“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,” his agency Loveblood Creative said in an official statement.
In an email, Joe’s father, Gregory Whale, added: “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.”
Joe’s amazing illustrations have brought him over 135,000 Instagram followers. But that’s not all.
Joe had his own solo exhibition of art at the Soden Collection last year. It is an art gallery in Joe’s hometown. His artwork was also acknowledged by Prince William, Duchess Catherine and others when he created an illustration depicting their December 2020 royal train tour.
They shared it on their official twitter account. Joe was thanked for his efforts and encouraged Joe to pursue his passions. They wrote, “Keep up the great work!”
According to Joe’s website, his favorite things to draw are “food, monsters, and aliens.” Letting his imagination run free, he has even created his own unique characters like “Cool Dog,” “Praying Turtle,” and “Backpack Kid.”
“I have been drawing and painting since the age of three and art has been a huge part of my life,” he wrote on his website.
“I would draw, paint, and do crafts at every opportunity and that hasn’t changed to this day. I pretty much create doodles from anything as I get inspired by my surroundings and create characters from all of the things I see.”
When creating his illustrations, there is one rule that Joe always follows: “There is no right or wrong in art, just interpretation.”
Joe’s first book, Game of Scones—a children’s fiction tale featuring his illustrations—is set to be released later this year.
We’re excited to see what Joe creates with Nike! You can visit The Doodle Boy’s website or follow him on Instagram and YouTube to keep up with his latest updates.
