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9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

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You should always support your kids and their natural talents. And if you nurture them, great things will happen. That’s what 9-year-old Joe Whale’s parents thought when they encouraged their son to keep drawing, even though he got into trouble for doodling during class.

They sent Joe to an after-school art class and his artistic abilities were quickly noticed by those around him. In fact, Joe was invited to decorate the dining room of the ‘Number 4’ restaurant in Shrewsbury, England. Now, Joe is known as The Doodle Boy and has his own website, as well as social media pages showing off his awesome art. Scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview with Joe’s dad Gregory!

More info: TheDoodleBoy.co.uk | Facebook | Instagram

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9-year-old Joe Whale loves drawing, but he got in trouble for doodling in class…

Image credits: Bloom

All of his notebooks are covered in doodles

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: The Doodle Boy

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: The Doodle Boy

Bored Panda spoke to Joe’s dad Greg about his son’s artistic talents. According to Greg, his son has ‘always’ loved drawing and “was added to the Gifted register in primary school aged 4.”

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He added: “His identical twin brother Jesse was also added to the register.”

Joe’s parents sent him to an after-school drawing class. His teacher loved his art and shared it on Instagram

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Greg Whale

The 9-year-old’s drawings were immediately noticed by the ‘Number 4’ restaurant staff

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Greg Whale

Greg also revealed how long it took Joe to finish his drawings on the dining room walls in the restaurant. “Joe spent about 12 hours illustrating the wall.”

What’s more, Greg had some advice for parents who want to encourage their kids to develop their talents: “I would advise parents to encourage their children to always follow their passion and dreams — research local workshops or groups within your local community.”

They invited him to decorate the restaurant’s dining room

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

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Image credits: The Doodle Boy

Joe’s dad drives him to draw in the restaurant after school

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Greg Whale

When their kids get into trouble for something at school, some parents tend to shut that behavior down. However, others know how to recognize a talent that needs creative space to flourish, so they give them what they need.

Many an artist would love the creative freedom that Joe’s been given

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Greg Whale

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9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: The Doodle Boy

Joe’s teacher recognized his talent and posted his work on Instagram. His drawings caught the eye of the ‘Number 4’ restaurant which asked him to come over and decorate their walls with his doodles. Now, his dad drives him there so he can draw his heart out. Who knew that drawing in an after-class program would lead Joe to get his first job at barely 9 years old?

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9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Greg Whale

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Greg Whale

“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,” Joe’s dad Greg told the media. “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 is now known as The Doodle Boy and has his own website, as well as social media profiles

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Caters

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

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Image credits: The Doodle Boy

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: The Doodle Boy

The amount of imagination that went into the drawings is inspiring

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: The Doodle Boy

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: The Doodle Boy

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: The Doodle Boy

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Caters

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

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Image credits: The Doodle Boy

He continued: “Joe loves doodling and we’re so proud of everything he’s achieving, 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.”

Joe is on his way to becoming a professional artist

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: The Doodle Boy

According to Self-Sufficient Kids, it’s incredibly important to embrace whatever talents, ambitions, goals, dreams, and desires your children might have. Even if what they excel at doesn’t match your vision of their future.

Joe’s family is incredibly supportive

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Image credits: Greg Whale

What’s more, parents have to learn to differentiate between when their child is uninterested in something and when they find an activity too tough and need encouragement, as well as support.

Here’s what people had to say when they saw Joe’s story

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9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

9-Year-Old Kid Who Kept Getting In Trouble For Doodling In Class Gets A Job Decorating A Restaurant With His Drawings

Jonas Grinevičius

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Mantas Kačerauskas

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

What do you think ?

Daria B 5 years ago

I had the same "problem" when I was a kid. I'm glad this boy got an opportunity. Hopefully his story will open up chances for other kids with similar "problems" as well. His art is cute too.

40points

Alexandru Bucur 5 years ago

Indeed, so did I. Interestingly, my teachers let me, because they realised not only I was still paying attention, but most of my doodles actually helped me learn better, because they were related to what was being discussed and worked as mnemonics for the lesson. One time, in high-school, for my literature class, I was allowed to hand in a paper we were supposed to write on a novel as a comic book (for example, one of the characters was obsessed with acquiring land for farming by marrying into it, so I drew him as chasing a dump truck full of dirt). That worked really well for me, as I'm now an architect and illustrator. My wife however had the opposite experience, with both her parents and teachers discouraging her artistic endeavours at a young age, even though she is a natural talent. It's only after we met that she started exploring her artistic side.

27points

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Iris 5 years ago

Joe is a cool kid, and an artist .

22points

Freya the Wanderer 5 years ago

He definitely has a future as a professional artist!

4points

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Valerie Lessard 5 years ago

what an awesome kid. I find doodling idly actually helps with concentration

15points

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Daria B 5 years ago

I had the same "problem" when I was a kid. I'm glad this boy got an opportunity. Hopefully his story will open up chances for other kids with similar "problems" as well. His art is cute too.

40points

Alexandru Bucur 5 years ago

Indeed, so did I. Interestingly, my teachers let me, because they realised not only I was still paying attention, but most of my doodles actually helped me learn better, because they were related to what was being discussed and worked as mnemonics for the lesson. One time, in high-school, for my literature class, I was allowed to hand in a paper we were supposed to write on a novel as a comic book (for example, one of the characters was obsessed with acquiring land for farming by marrying into it, so I drew him as chasing a dump truck full of dirt). That worked really well for me, as I'm now an architect and illustrator. My wife however had the opposite experience, with both her parents and teachers discouraging her artistic endeavours at a young age, even though she is a natural talent. It's only after we met that she started exploring her artistic side.

27points

Load More Replies...

Iris 5 years ago

Joe is a cool kid, and an artist .

22points

Freya the Wanderer 5 years ago

He definitely has a future as a professional artist!

4points

Load More Replies...

Valerie Lessard 5 years ago

what an awesome kid. I find doodling idly actually helps with concentration

15points

Load More Comments

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