In my life as a ‘maker of things’ I've been creating and earning a living from painting and collage making, graphic, book, textile and surface design, illustration, mural painting, and a myriad of other disciplines. I've studied fine arts in Ein-Hod, an artist's village, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in the mystical Carmel Heights in Israel where I am originally from. Later I have studied graphic design in the contemporary yet history-drenched city of Utrecht, in the Netherlands. In the last decade I've been practicing and teaching complex yet simple art making processes through mixed-media, visual-journaling, book making, story telling, and ritual building. 

I have taught workshops in intimate settings and in large art retreats, both across the US and abroad, in Australia, Mexico, Morocco, The Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Ireland, and England. I've been a contributor in more than a dozen books and magazines and have authored three published books and four card decks designed to inspire and support creative practices. I have spoken about these practices in beautiful events as well. My work’s purpose is to advance the well being of those who seek it through a unique creative process and an experience based content I have created and developed throughout these years. Engaging in a world that is far more expansive than my own enlivens me to no end and I hope to invoke that feeling in others.

Now living in beautiful Portland, Oregon, I take in all the magnificence of the landscapes that shaped me and of the visual languages I have acquired along the way. I am passionate about the process of marrying multiple media to inspire freedom of expression, honesty of emotion, and a deep belief in the possibility, the power, and the beauty of change. I truly believe that the need to be witnessed by the self and by others is a core human need to be fulfilled by the act of creating. Therefore, a compelling part of my own journey and my absolute passion is the fostering of that in others. Art making practices cultivate insight into the nature of growth and the creative process as they relate to deep stories of loss and mend.

Enriched by self trust and acceptance, images, photos, paper, paint, words, pen, line, thread, and many unconventional tools and materials entwine to make expressive, complex, and personal creations. It's all about one's willingness to reveal vulnerability and rawness for the sake of true creative freedom, newness, and a deep sense of interconnectedness to all. Experiencing honest, open ended, and spirit lifting journeys takes precedence over producing beautiful outcomes. Ultimately, this, for me, is about living and depicting the fluidity of our lives, about effortlessly carrying ourselves from one place to another, and about connecting to a larger world than our own. I wish to bring it forth to you.

It’s okay to change. It’s okay to retreat, then join back in. It’s okay to leave and never come back. It’s okay to leave and come back differently.

Email: orlyavineri@gmail.com
Instagram: @orlyavineri
Facebook: orly.avineri