Porter lived a traditional nomadic lifestyle for several decades before settling at Papunya then later Tjukurla. Similar to several artists working in the region she developed skills in weaving and carving before gaining recognition for her exceptional painting ability. Porter's artworks represent traditional homelands associated with her peoples ancestral heritage. The repeated and honed mark making that is apparent in all her works are derived from sand dunes (tali) and rock escarpments (puli).