Blake Lenoir is well-known for his finely detailed, colored-pencil drawings of lush, natural landscapes teeming with wildlife. He renders the flora and fauna of his native Illinois with the same intense passion he uses to depict endangered species in the Amazon or those already extinct and lost over time. A recurring theme in Blake’s drawings is the eco-system of the Calumet Region that borders the southern edge of Lake Michigan and his southeast side neighborhood. His work has been featured in a number of publications, including the book City Creatures, Audubon magazine, and in Temple Grandin, My Life in Pictures: A Coloring Book for Children about Autism (a companion to the HBO original film about the autistic author, activist, and livestock handling expert). Blake’s life and work, including his award-winning gardening, have been profiled on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, among other media outlets. In addition to his artistic talents, Blake is a tireless advocate for people with autism and environmental causes.
