For Filipino artist Jay Cortez, the first-place trophy had been a long time coming. More than a decade after high school, where he competed again and again only to finish as runner-up, the Dubai-based scribble artist known as Jrscribble finally reached the top spot — and he did it on the most unlikely canvas of all: an air fryer.
Cortez, 33, won Black+Decker’s live art competition at the Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) 2026, held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from September 11 to 13. The activation, staged at the brand’s DIY Workshop booth, challenged artists with a single provocative question splashed across its posters: “Can you turn a product into art?” Cortez’s answer earned him first place and AED 3,000 worth of Black+Decker products.
“After several years away from live competitions, I decided to challenge myself again,” Cortez shared with TGFM. “To my surprise, I won first place.”
A career built one commission at a time
Cortez has called Dubai home since December 2018, and his art career began the following year — not out of grand ambition, but out of necessity. “At that time, I was looking for a way to earn some extra income, so I started accepting art commissions and taking on small creative projects,” he said. “What started as a way to earn additional income eventually became something I genuinely loved and continued to develop over the years.”
That love eventually pulled him back toward something he had missed for years: the pressure of the live stage.
“Honestly, I really missed the feeling of being on that stage — the nervousness, tension, pressure, and excitement that comes with having a limited amount of time to create something in front of an audience,” he said. “I also saw this competition as an opportunity to challenge myself again. I wanted to compete alongside new and younger artists and see if I still had that same fighting spirit I had when I was younger. I guess I wanted to find out if I still had it, and I’m glad I did.”
Closing an open chapter
The win carried a weight that went beyond the prize. In high school, Cortez said, he competed several times and always came close, but never reached the top.
“It felt like a huge relief, but more than that, it felt like validation,” he said. “Winning first place this time felt like finally closing a chapter that had been open for many years. I’m 33 now, and I realized that even at this age, I still have something to prove — not necessarily to other people, but to myself. This experience reminded me that I shouldn’t put a limit on what I can achieve just because I’m getting older.”
The air fryer as a canvas
The competition’s twist was the surface itself. Instead of paper or canvas, artists were handed a Black+Decker air fryer.
“I’ve never really looked at an air fryer and thought, ‘This is my canvas,'” Cortez admitted with a laugh. “From the beginning, I kept one goal in mind: the final piece had to be clean, intentional, and have a clear story.”
He was also determined not to erase the appliance’s identity. “I didn’t want to completely lose its identity as a kitchen appliance. At the same time, I wanted it to look elegant and feel like a proper piece of art,” he said. “That’s why I decided to incorporate gold accents into the design. It gave the piece a more premium and elegant finish while still allowing the original form of the air fryer to remain visible.”
A story of innocence and darkness
Fittingly for a pop culture convention, Cortez went with a Star Wars theme — one that traced the fall of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader.
“I wanted to show the contrast between Anakin as a young, innocent boy — someone who had no idea what the future held for him — and his eventual transition to the dark side,” he explained. “What interested me most was the idea that he didn’t simply become a villain overnight. His fear, his desire to become stronger, and his determination to protect the person he loved ultimately pushed him toward darkness.”
The result, he said, was meant to be read as a narrative rather than a decoration. “I wanted people to look at the air fryer and not just see a decorated appliance, but actually see a story unfolding on it.”
The theme suited its stage. MEFCC, now in its 14th edition, is the largest pop culture convention in the Middle East and drew more than 46,000 visitors in 2025.
A message for artists still chasing the top
Cortez credited the Black+Decker team for the unusual opportunity. “I truly take my hat off to the entire Black+Decker team for creating such a creative and challenging opportunity for artists,” he said.
More than the prize, he hopes his story reaches artists who know the ache of always finishing close.
“Never stop trying. Don’t let judgment, criticism, or previous failures stop you from doing what you love,” he said. “Sometimes you might feel like you’re always close but never quite there. I know that feeling very well. Keep going until you reach your goal. And once you reach it, set another goal. That’s what keeps us growing as artists. There will always be another challenge, another competition, another piece to create, and another level to reach. The journey never really stops.”
