Ms. Chinana was born and raised in the Pueblo of Jemez. In 1976 she began experimenting with the clay and taught herself how to shape it in the form of bowls, vases, jars and animal figures. With the encouragement of her grandmother, Reyes Toya, learned how to make traditional Jemez pottery. It took many years to perfect her technique. By 1985 she decided she was ready to attend Arts and Crafts shows.

Lorraine started by attending the Eight Northern Arts and Craft shows and any other state shows. In 1986 she attended her first out-of-state show in Las Vegas, Nevada. She entered her work in the juried competition and won Second-Third Place. That ribbon encouraged her to continue with her work.

Lorraine's family is also involved in working with pottery. Tito, her husband helps dig the clay and grind it. He also digs the clay slips from the mesas, and helps prepare for the firing process. He has also learned how to carve pottery. He does a lot of animal figuring and enjoys working with clay. Daughter Angela has followed the family tradition and with the help of her great grandmother and Lorraine is now able to do her own work. Angela has also participated in art shows and currently shares the booth displaying both their work.

Currently she attends several out of state shows in California, Arizona, Colorado, and Kansas and since 1988 has been at the Santa Fe Indian Market. The annual shows are: The Heard Museum Show in Phoenix, Eight Northern Show in San Ildefonso, and The Santa Fe Indian Market in Santa Fe.