Dr. Doodle inspires juvenile offenders to make the right choices through art

Tampa, Florida - Artist Ron Hutchinson lives a colorful life. He even has a creative nickname.

Ron Hutchinson, Dr. Doodle:

“Dr. Doodle, Doc., Dr. D.”

He has traveled all over the world and had some big name clients like Vogue and VH-1. But it’s regular names like Anthony and Cameron that really inspire him. At Hillsborough Academy he works with troubled kids who have committed felonies. Now they’re committing their energy to art.

Ron Hutchinson, Dr. Doodle:

“They're just kids and all of a sudden they started being creative and they were glowing, they inspired us.”

The mural they’re painting is filled with thoughts and dreams of what they want to do, when they’re released from the locked fences of this state facility. The young teens have much to talk about.

“Cameron”, Young Artist:

“I'm gonna write a book.”

Cameron says dealing with art, beats dealing drugs on the street.

“Cameron”, Young Artist:

“I just hope to help other people so they won't end up like me.”

Anthony expresses a world far away from guns.

“Anthony”, Young Artist:

“Looking at a better side of life and seeing what other kids want to do, maybe get an interest in that, cause everybody got a dream.”

To these kids Dr. Doodle is hip and cool.

“Anthony”, Young Artist:

“I related to him.”

And there’s a reason they relate so well.

Ron Hutchinson, Dr. Doodle:

“I've been arrested quite a few times in my life”

But now he has come full circle by making the right choices.

Ron Hutchinson, Dr. Doodle:

“What I get when I'm with them, is the exact thing I was looking for when I thought I was being cool or trying to be popular, trying to be loved by the wrong people, now I'm actually doing the right thing and things are happening right.”

So with every stroke there’s plenty of love and hope of a brighter future for Dr. Doodle and his young apprentices.