One of the first articles I shared here was a piece about my painting of a pangolin that I created during the Covid 19 Pandemic. In this post, I want to share a little bit more about the series that painting belongs to and how this collection of animal paintings continues to inspire and evolve.
Creating Art in Isolation: The Story Behind My Pandemic Animal Series
To recap: when the world shut down in 2020, I was working on a popular Nickelodeon TV show in Los Angeles. Practically overnight, life in the city changed. With work suspended and a strict stay-at-home mandate in place, I was left with an open calendar and nowhere to go. It was a strange time, but one that pushed me back into painting with a new focus and freedom to experiment.
Painting in Lockdown
The first paintings in the series—portraits of a fox, a raven, a bat, and of course, the pangolin—became symbols of resilience for me. These animals seemed to emerge from the rich, swirling patterns of alcohol inks, each vibrant backdrop adding to the mystery and energy of the animal it held. Painting these creatures felt like a way to reclaim control in a time of uncertainty, with each animal capturing a unique quality that resonated deeply during that period.
Connecting through Live Painting
The latest addition to the collection, a soulful black wolf (currently a work in progress), has been a shared journey of sorts. I began this piece as a live painting experiment during some recent art market events. People stopped by, intrigued, asking questions, and sharing their stories, and it was a welcome change from the isolation that initially shaped this series.
There’s a unique energy to painting live, knowing that each brushstroke is being watched and every color choice noticed. It’s become a way to connect with others, turning the solitary process that began this series into something that resonates with a broader community. Each time I set up my easel, people get to watch the painting shape little by little, transforming from a blank canvas to something alive and full of energy. Talking with onlookers as I paint, hearing their interpretations and reactions, has added an entirely new dimension to the work.
Live Wedding Painting: A New Chapter for Katie Peña Art
The idea of painting in front of others made me incredibly nervous at first. I usually paint in the comfort of my home studio, where I can control everything from the tools I use to the lighting setup. Painting outdoors, with limited supplies and unpredictable conditions, felt like stepping into unknown territory. I worried about how people might respond to my work in progress. But witnessing the interest and curiosity from passersby was transformative. Everyone brought their own interpretations and associations to the work, offering perspectives I hadn’t considered before. It broadened my understanding of my art and sparked new ideas. Painting the wolf live has given me the courage to pursue something I’m truly excited about: live wedding painting. I have often found artistic inspiration through weddings; I’ll officially begin offering this new experience in 2025, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
With each live painting experience ahead of me, I will get to share not only the final pieces but also the journey behind them. As for the lockdown series, from the fox to the wolf, it serves as a record of resilience, curiosity, and connection. Born in isolation, it has evolved into something much larger than I initially envisioned —a reminder of the resilience we all carry and a testament to the power of art to bridge the gaps between us and inspire us to forge bold new paths ahead.
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