After retiring at age fifty-five from his job as municipal treasurer in San Pedro, he took up drawing in pencil to occupy his time. With no concept of even the most basic conventions of drawing, he kept making childlike mistakes. When a friend persuaded him to try using oil paint, his work came alive as if by magic. His paintings are pure color, full of light, and as brilliant as the traditional Guatemalan textiles. He patiently depicts his fellow Indians and makes the clothes of each person in a picture different.
Every Mayan town has a unique style of dress including distinctive patterns and color combinations.
Within the framework of her village's tradition each weaver makes subtle variations in each piece she creates. Lorenzo enjoys painting these subtle differences in pattern and color. Sometimes in Lorenzo's paintings the dress of the Pedrano men and women creates a wonderful effect, almost pointillist in nature. Lorenzo's faces, especially those of women, are particularly beautiful and sympathetic. Their dark eyes look directly out of the painting.