Rustic flowers by Arleen (Panda) Gomez in Santa Ana

Hi, I’m Arleen Gomez, but a lot of people in the art community know me as Panda. I’m a visual artist born and raised right here in Santa Ana, California. For me, art is all about continuous exploration. I don’t like to confine myself to just one style or medium; I’m always looking for new ways to create and challenge myself. My work usually flows between vibrant acrylics and fluid watercolors, and I love creating pieces based on raw emotions and captured moments. Whether it’s a tiny, fleeting second of joy or a deep, heavy feeling that words can't quite explain, I use my art to bottle up those experiences. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working on some incredible projects, from co-creating the Saddleback Art Car (2015-2016)—which was my first major team project in the art community. I also had an opportunity to work on a commission piece for digital creators like @Alannized. I love diving into character design and playful illustration. For these portraits, I really focused on clean linework, vibrant marker blending, and precise highlights. I always try to give my characters a lot of personality