Joe is not your average 13-year-old kid. He has a passion for art that goes beyond the boundaries of his school notebooks. He loves to draw anything that comes to his mind, from food to monsters to aliens. But his teachers don’t appreciate his artistic flair. They often scold him for doodling in class instead of focusing on his studies.
But Joe doesn’t let that stop him. He knows that art is his way of expressing himself and his imagination. He shares his doodles with the world through his Instagram account, where he has thousands of followers who admire his work. And one of them is a big name in the sports industry: Nike.
Nike was so impressed by Joe’s unique and colorful designs that they contacted him to offer him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to design a special edition of sneakers based on his artwork. Joe was over the moon when he heard the news. He couldn’t believe that his hobby could turn into such an amazing deal.
According to his agency, Nike wanted to celebrate Joe’s creativity and passion for sports and inspire others to pursue their dreams and have fun.
Joe’s father, Gregory Whale, was very proud of his son’s achievement. He said that Joe had always loved drawing since he was three years old and that this deal was a dream come true for him.
But this was not the first time that Joe’s talent got him recognition. Before he landed the Nike deal, he had his first solo exhibition at the Soden Collection, an art gallery in his hometown of Shrewsbury, England. He displayed his original drawings and paintings, which attracted many visitors and buyers.
He also got a royal seal of approval when Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, praised his work. Joe had made a drawing of their royal train tour in December 2020, and they thanked him and encouraged him to keep up the great work in a tweet from their official account.
Joe is an example of how creativity and passion can lead to amazing opportunities. He doesn’t let anyone tell him what he can or can’t do with his art. He follows his motto: “There is no right or wrong in art, just interpretation.” He draws what he loves, and he loves what he draws.