Not many sixth-graders have products with their artwork on them flying off the shelves of stores nationwide.

But Cole Staehling, 12, of Wildwood, is the exception.

Cole, a student at Rockwood Valley Middle School, recently had his artwork selected by ICA Home Décor to be used on canvas prints sold at Garden Ridge stores across the country.

Cole's collection of four acrylic paintings — a stylized boat, train, airplane and double-decker bus — is being marketed toward pre-school and elementary age boys.

His father, Bret Staehling, describes Cole as always being fascinated with drawing motor vehicles.

"He's always sketching cars and other vehicles, and on family trips, both here and abroad, those have provided inspiration for Cole's creativity," Bret said. "For instance, the double-decker bus painting reflects the better part of two years that our family spent in 2009 and 2010 traveling in Europe."

Bret, a full-time realtor and part-time photographer, said Cole and his sisters, Mia, 10, and Ella, 7, created illustrated travel journals during that trip, as well as participating in European art workshops and visits to art museums.

That exposure to art has helped fuel Cole's interest in drawing, his father said. For instance, in Italy, the kids attended a fresco workshop where they painted frescos on tiles in Florence.

But Cole said he's always been interested in drawing.

"I like making stuff up and developing my own style," said Cole, who also enjoys woodcarving and golf. "Vehicles are some of my favorite things to draw."

His commercial opportunity came because his mother, Angela Staehling, is a commercial artist and has worked on freelance painting projects with ICA Home Décor before, and Bret has done freelance photography for the firm.

"Artwork is in the family, it must be something in the blood, getting passed down," Angela said.

Angela has had her own artwork used by a variety of manufacturers over the years on products ranging from dinnerware to home textiles to stationery, she said.

"It's similar to Cole, in that products with my own artwork designs have been sold at stores around the world, such as at Pier One and Macy's and other stores," she said.

Angela, after thinking about many of Cole's sketches, wondered why he couldn't submit his own artwork to ICA.

"All they could do would be to say no," she said. "But ICA liked his airplane sketch and recently asked him to paint three more modes of transportation."

Bret said the family all worked on artwork in their journals while abroad, though only he, Angela and Cole submitted drawings to ICA.

"Though, we hope the girls are inspired to join in the family business," Angela said.

Each of the four vehicles took Cole about two and a half days to create.

"Doing this for the company, it was a lot more effort than just slapping something down on paper," Cole said. "But they turned out pretty good. But I would say yes, because I drew them!"

Cole is getting paid for his work, though Bret said it's still unknown exactly how much Cole will be getting. Monthly royalty checks haven't yet come in.

"I'll probably save any money for college," said Cole, who isn't sure of a future career yet, though he's thinking about being a pro soccer player.

Cole has already seen some of the items with his drawings in Garden Ridge stores.

"They're on gallery wrapped canvases for general home decor," Angela said.

Cole said seeing his artwork for sale "makes me feel good, with my vehicles going from a little sketch to these big canvases in stores."

Andrew Loiterstein, principal at Rockwood Valley, said Cole is not just an exceptional artist. Cole also is an avid soccer player and plays the cornet at school, as well as being on student council, he said.

"But he excels in everything he puts his mind to, and he's a great student," Loiterstein said. "We're excited he now has the opportunity to share his art with others. For him to achieve this level of success this early in life, is exciting. I like to see him get recognition for doing what he loves."

Cole is already thinking of his next project, painting baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls and footballs in different designs, to "make them kind of an artwork."

Angela said the current project "gave Cole a sense of what is possible, and I certainly think he can create many more ideas based off his interests."