Bio
Lori Portka is a full-time artist whose mission is to spread happiness. A firm believer in loving kindness, she aims to be as authentically Lori as possible in her art, work and life.
After graduating from college and working as a teacher, Lori received her Masters in Mental Health Counseling. She intended to make a career working in the school system until, at age 30-something, she read The Artist’s Way and began making art again for the first time since high school.
Creating art helped Lori through a heart-breaking divorce, and it became her way of re-opening her heart to the potential of the future. “Sometimes I rode the waves of pain on a boat of pastels, paints, chalk and inks,” she explains. “It was a bumpy ride, but I grew deeper, more spiritual and more compassionate.”
Nowadays, Lori is remarried and living happily in upstate New York with her loving husband Jay, their gentle-hearted greyhounds, and a calico cat. When not creating art, Lori can be found reading spiritual books, drinking green juice, traveling, hiking, and snuggling with Jay while they watch movies and eat dark chocolate.
Click here for a printable version of Lori’s bio (PDF).
Artwork Appearances
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Natural Awakenings Magazine Artwork used on cover, November 2011 issue Magazine Link |
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Wild Sister Magazine Artwork used on cover, October 2011 issue Magazine Link |
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Artful Blogging Magazine Artwork featured in magazine, Winter 2011 issue Magazine Link |
Interviews & Media Features
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Creative Living with Jamie Podcast Interview, November 2011 Interview Link |
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Kind Over Matter Featured in Friday’s Lovelies, April 2011 Article Link |
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Inner Adventures Featured Interview, March 2011 Interview Link |
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Kind Over Matter Seven Souls, One Musing: Interview Series Article Link |
Articles + Contributions
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Wild Sister Magazine Monthly Contributor Magazine Link |
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Artful Blogging Magazine Featured article, Autumn 2011 Magazine Link |
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Become A Self-Love Warrior Contributed to E-Book E-Book Link |
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Regiving Contributed to E-Book E-Book Link |
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365 Grateful Regular Contributor to film’s blog Blog Link |
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Cresendoh.com Feature Finding Happiness Through Art: My Story Article Link |
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Kind Over Matter Conflict & Kindness Article Link |
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Roots Of She Regular Contibutor Link to Articles Archive |
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Painted Path fearLESS Friday Article Link |