When his midseason injury forced him to sit out five games during his senior year, Ivan Bailey-Greene, a St. Joseph’s Prep defensive tackle, thought that his dream of earning a college football scholarship was over, writes Isabella DiAmore for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“I was angry,” said Bailey-Greene. “I was like, ‘I can’t miss a game.’ I was really trying to push myself. Then I kind of calmed myself down — drawing helped.”

He used painting to channel this anger, spending hours creating portraits of his favorite musical artists, like Lauryn Hill; SZA; Tyler, the Creator; and Drake.

“It helped me get out of my head,” said Bailey-Greene. “It was better to concentrate on something else and get my head into a positive place because I was very upset. I think everybody should have an outlet. With the hustle and bustle of the real world, everybody needs something they like to do.”

As painting became another passion of his, his teachers and classmates started to recognize his skill and now also see him as a talented portrait artist.

Next year, Bailey-Greene plans to keep pursuing art at East Stroudsburg University, where he will continue his football career. He will major in nursing, just like his mother and grandmother, and is considering minoring in art.

Read more about Ivan Bailey-Greene and his multiple talents in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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