La Peña presents "Bright Colors of the Soul" an exhibit of paintings at Las Manitas by Toni Hudson of Brownsville, Texas. The exhibit will be on display from March 1st until April 4th with a reception taking place on Friday, March 10th from 6-8 pm.

Toni R. Hudson was born in Concordia, Coahuila, Mexico. She was brought to the United States at the age of 14. Hudson believes that she was born to be an artist and began drawing at the age of 10. Her first piece of art was on a piece of glass where she copied Picasso's "Girl with the Book", but one of the first drawings of Madonna and Child was one of the biggest sales that was sold out of her garage in 1995. Someone asked her to put a price on it and she did for $750.

Hudson predominantly paints women because she feels she can relay to the audience the mystery, passion and sensitivity women possess. She often paints angels because they represent the mystification of human expressions as well as personify the kindness and the love she feels of sharing. Hudson is truly a prolific painter, taking no time to rest. Using her own technique, she is familiar with all media including acrylic, pastel, watercolor, oil, ink and charcoal.

Hudson has traveled around the world visiting museums and galleries, where she has had the opportunity to appreciate the work of the masters who have become and inspiration to her art. In 2000, she opened her own art studio, Imagenes Art Studio, in Brownsville, Texas.