SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Some people can produce fine pieces of art after months of work, but one artist can do it in seconds.<\/p>\n
With millions of followers across social media, Trent Landreth has not only impressed with his talent but has also inspired families with loved ones on the spectrum.<\/p>\n
Trent built his following by taking requests for certain pieces of art or drawing an idea from a bowl of rolled-up pieces of paper. He is unaware of what he will be asked to draw until seconds before his Sharpie hits paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen him do quite a few drawings, and it\u2019s just amazing how it\u2019s just like \u2018can you do this and that\u2019 and he just \u2018boop boop boop\u2019 and it\u2019s done within seconds,\u201d Rudy Navarrete said.<\/p>\n
Trent is nonverbal and has severe autism; through his upbringing in church, he has learned to handle crowds of people and is now a source of inspiration for his fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to see him thrive in his life and be successful in the things he is doing gives those families hope, and that\u2019s something we wish we would\u2019ve had when he was very young,\u201d Corey Landreth, Trent\u2019s father, said.<\/p>\n
He particularly excels in drawing animals; his father says it\u2019s always been that way, even though he isn\u2019t always a big fan of animals in person.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrent, in a lot of ways, is a mystery. Because he can\u2019t communicate his thoughts or feelings or dreams or the reason why he does the thing he does, it\u2019s very difficult for us. We really try not to project on him the feelings he might be feeling or thinking,\u201d Landreth said.<\/p>\n
At a Child\u2019s Play Toys in downtown Sioux Falls, Trent got the chance to meet local fans who are on the spectrum, have relatives on the spectrum, or just appreciate his work.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a father of a son with autism, it resonated with me. Trent\u2019s story is really cool; his ability and seeing his parents behind him in his court, supporting him and his drawing, is really cool, and I became super excited when I found out he was going to be this close to home,\u201d Erik Nyhaug said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth me and him are autistic. What I\u2019ve learned is that it doesn\u2019t matter what people think of your artwork; it matters if you\u2019re having fun or not,\u201d Cassie Holmes said.<\/p>\n