LETTER OF THE MONTH

WHERE THERE’S A WILL

I’M WILL, a 13-year-old who has an obsession with burnouts, drags and tough cars. In lockdown last year, I began a business called Lowered & Lifted Car Drawings. It started with a few recreational drawings I did that my mum posted on Facebook, and she had people from as far away as Switzerland asking where to get them. So I started a business around my drawings. It was difficult at first, but after I figured out a system, I had it down to a science.

Back then, I was selling them for $10 a pop, but I still had people – even mates – saying that I was “charging too much” and that my business “isn’t going to work”. They tried to get me to quit before I’d even tried, but I persisted and kept it going.

My entire style of work changed this year though; having got an ipad for Christmas, along with a stylus, I went completely digital. My quality of work took a huge dip while I got used to the software, but as I became more used to it, my art got really good.

Many have said that my style is unique and interesting, and I couldn’t agree more. I don’t go for the most realistic; I go for semi-real, more creative artworks. I like to stand out, be different. It’s similar to cars – build what you want, not what everyone else wants.

Speaking of which, my dad and I are building a 1988 VL Calais, with a shaved engine bay, 308 engine, Turbo 350 gearbox – the whole nine yards. We aren’t gonna tub it or do a huge build with it; it’ll just be a resto-mod type car. It’s got factory gold paint and black Simmons rims, so it’ll be subtle, but the sound it’ll put out is gonna turn some heads!

Will Johnson, email