Loretta Pena is a self-taught artist based in Union City, California United States.  She began her journey after working for a fast-paced company for more than 20 years.  The stress from working for that company was so great, she suffered a severe anxiety attack that caused her to rethink her future.  She began therapy, eventually parted ways and started painting which she now uses as her coping mechanism.  Loretta has said many times "you really don't see yourself until your therapist holds a mirror in front of you."  She gives credit to both painting and therapy for saving her life and now creates art full-time.  Her paintings will take you on her life's journey. 

 

Loretta's paintings are at times are dark and emotional to happy and inspiring. She also paints to express her current mood and her views on world topics.  Her mission is always rooted in helping others who have had similar experiences to hers, and to reassure them that there is a better life waiting for them.  There is no subject she will not touch, and is unafraid of criticism because her paintings are created from within her soul; her soul being her security blanket, if you will.  She has once said being self-taught feels free and independent, without worries of color representation and style and this is evident in her work.  Most of her paintings are created with acrylic paints on canvas.  The tools she uses are brushes, scalpels and anything she feels will give her the effect she needs such as plastic wrap, paper towels, fabric swatches, fingers, etc.  She loves to paint and feels very fortunate to be on her journey and hopes that her creations will mean something to someone someday.