Lori Portka creates art from a daily practice of gratitude. Her paintings feature vibrant imagery and life-affirming messages dedicated to kindness, compassion, and being true to yourself. Although art was Lori’s first passion as a child, she began her career working as a teacher and counselor. Lori found her way back to creating art after a painful divorce when inspired by an online gratitude project. “I started the Hundred Thank You's project as a way to keep gratitude front and center in my life and to refine my skills as an artist,” Lori says. “I made 100 paintings for 100 people who had an influence in my life and held a gallery show where I gave them all away.” An independent Australian filmmaker learned about her project on social media and flew to the US to film a short documentary about it called “Gratitude Grows.” A few years later the film aired on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. This gratitude project became the foundation for her art business and put Lori on the path to developing the kind of work that would have a significant impact in the world. Today, Lori is happily married and living in Asheville, NC with her loving husband and two matching black cats. Working out of a studio in Riverview Station in Asheville’s renown River Arts District, her space is open to the public where she enjoys meeting new people and long-time customers. You’ll find Lori’s line of art, stationary, gifts and home decor carried in hundreds of shops in the US and worldwide.
