Oasis in the Mountains; The Paintings of Lorrie Bortner

Lorrie Bortner's work invokes a calming and settled response. A graceful
moment where time stands still. All forms of life created, live in harmony.
People, animals, even trees happily seem to watch our world as they slowly
float by. Viewed by us in greater glory of innocent beauty for their trouble.
It is a place of rounded edges and cool tones. Rich with deep colors. The eyes, leaves, animals and people smoothly flow and allow us to float along with them like a dream but hauntingly close to an experience one calls back from a real or imagined past.
-Thomas J. Johnson
Painter and printmaker

Lorrie's art are reflections of her self. Reflecting her personality, full of life,
color and pure love. Her art refreshes your soul, makes you smile, always fun. You always feel pure love. Sweet Lorrie.
-Lydia Garcia
Santera

Lorrie Bortner's work is fresh and delightful.
It is a reflection of who she is, which is very rare in these days of assumptions and pretensions.
While her work shows a directness and may seem almost childlike, which is
a feat in itself, her vision and knowledge is anything but.
Bortner tells a mythological story or broaches upon a topic she deems important to her, yet it is never propagandistic. It always comes down to aesthetics in the end, which in my opinion is what art is about.
We are lucky Lorrie chooses to be real and honest, for through her truthfulness we get rich, colorful, fun and astute paintings.
-Brenda Euwer
Abstract painter

It's easy to see why so many people are drawn to Lorrie's work. The bold
colors and playful images create a world of color and life that enables us to
travel, getting lost in the thoughts that the images create. The colors and
images are in motion and they mesmerize, as if reminding us of a vision, or a dream we once had. Her work can be whimsical, yet powerful and bold,
brave enough to address women's issues, and yet whimsical enough to
invoke the joys of a childhood too soon forgotten.
-Carmela Duran
Museum Coordinator
Millicent Rogers Museum
Taos, New Mexico

Lorrie paints with great focus and determination, has an original vision and
can render subjects of great complexity with remarkable simplicity and forcefulness:
she is, in fact, a natural heir to the early expressionists.
-Geoffrey Baker
Professor Emeritus of Art
Maharishi University of Management


Lorrie was born in Philadelphia in
1955. As a child she lived in New
Jersey, Chicago and New York. She
always wanted to be an artist. Her
early memories are of museum
visits with her family to the museums
in New York City, Chicago and
Philadelphia.
As an adult she obtained an MFA in
painting and an MA in education.
Painting, creating murals and
inspiring and teaching children the arts are her passion. She has received
grants and community funding to create over 16 murals with New Mexico
youth, thereby teaching the youth teamwork, creative thinking, artistic design
and community service. Lorrie has also taught fabric painting, recycled sculpture...