Nine-year-old Joe Whale doesn’t need to doodle in class anymore. What once got him in trouble with teachers is now a creative outlet that’s earned him attention the world over.

Make no mistake, Joe is now only 10, but he’s a 10-year-old whose talent was recognized and encouraged by those around him (at least when he did it at the appropriate time and place).

After Joe had gotten in trouble at school, his parents signed him up for an after-school art class so he could hone his skill. When his teacher noticed his unique talent and she put his drawings up on Instagram. That’s where they caught the eye of the staff of the restaurant “Number 4,” in Shrewsbury.

The restaurant got in touch with Joe’s family and asked for a unique favor – they wanted young Joe to come in and doodle on their walls as part of their decor.

“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 Metro UK. “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’s dad drove him to the restaurant after school so he could accept the commission. Now the walls are filled with his thick black lines making monsters and buildings and whatever else pops into his imagination.

His parents were stunned but pleased that their son got a chance to be known for his drawing skills at such a young age.

“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,” his dad told Bored Panda.

Joe’s art teacher is still stunned by his work and thinks he has quite a career ahead of him – if that’s what he chooses:

“His work is very exact and immaculate, it’s very balanced, he goes straight to ink and creates perfect work straight from the start, no practicing beforehand,” she told Metro UK.

Now, not only has Joe earned his first commission, but he’s received so much interest that his parents have set up a website and a suite of social media accounts to help him show off his work, including Instagram, and Facebook. Soon, you’ll even be able to shop his designs if you want your own Joe Whale original!

On his website, Joe says that he first got interested in art when he was just 6 years old “and loved making monsters come to life.”

He gets his inspiration from a book series by Tom Gates.

It’s incredible what kids can do with the support of the people around them – and Joe’s parents are happy to see him pursue his drawing.

“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.

Be sure to scroll down below to see an interview with “The Doodle Boy” and his parents on CBS This Morning.

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Source: Bored Panda, The Doodle Boy via Instagram, Metro UK, CBS This Morning via YouTube