A Fayetteville woman is showing her gratitude to 100 people who have inspired her through her lifetime. Lori Portka began painting portraits about a year and a half ago for every person who she says she is grateful for. She will be showcasing and giving her work away this weekend. Brad Vivacqua has the story.

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ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The project is called A Hundred Thank-Yous, and will be on display next Saturday at Cazenovia College. Lori Portka has spent countless hours putting together these paintings since January of 2011.

Each rendering is on an 8 by 10 canvas and has a special significance or message to one of Lori's family members, friends, or acquaintances. Lori says she was inspired by an Australian woman, Hailey Bartholomew, who did a similar project, taking pictures of everything she was grateful for.

It took Lori about six to eight hours for each painting, and she says it's a way to give back to the people who have impacted her life.

"I feel like in my journey, I have expanded and opened up and become more compassionate and understanding of other people through this project. And, also, I finished a hundred paintings and I feel like I'm an entirely different artist," said Portka.

Lori says she will give the pictures away to each person she painted one for. Her efforts will also be part of a documentary that will be released next year.

You can check out Lori's exhibit this Saturday, June 16th. It will take place from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. in Reisman Hall at Cazenovia College.

Although these works aren't for sale, you can visit Lori's website to learn more about her and her greeting card work. Just visit www.loriportka.com.