A local artist found a way to honor the people on the front lines of the pandemic and those who have lost the battle with COVID-19.

Andrea Perno will have her work on display at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center during the month of April. Thursday marked the opening night of her gallery.

“I used to teach classes at the walk-in arts center, so I’m pretty much on all of the various center Facebook groups,” Perno said.

“This show is honoring the local people in Pennsylvania that have lost their lives to COVID, as well as some first responders - nurses, doctors and firefighters, things like that. It’s all people that have either died of COVID or are fighting it, basically.”

Perno has been a professional artist since 2007. She found a niche making pet portraits but began creating portraits of others’ loved ones last spring.

“March or April of last year, a lady found me on Facebook and reached out to me to have a picture of her twin boys done,” Perno said. “We got to talking, and she eventually said that they both passed of COVID - she lost both of her very young twin boys. I made that painting for her and it kind of spiraled from there through word of mouth and people reaching out through Facebook.”

Perno said she lost a family member to COVID-19, which makes her even more passionate about what she does.

“I thought this was a good way to honor people who have lost their lives,” she said. “Most people haven’t even been able to be with their loved ones in the hospital. In November, I lost my aunt to COVID and it hit home more so to me than just doing other peoples’ portraits. This is one of those ways where people can find a little bit of closure and I’m hoping it helps people find it.”

Perno is a graduate of Wilson High School and Kutztown University. She has done portraits for many locals including a few for Tamaqua residents. Her artwork will be on display at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center during the month of April.