When a Horse Photo Becomes Art: Meet the Artist Lori Sortino

We all love a beautiful horse photo. Today, it’s common to consume horse images on our phones with apps like Instagram and Facebook. However, it’s a whole other experience to stand in front of a piece of art that is big, in front of you, in real time, in real space. Come experience horse photos as art.


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Celebrating the Horse with Photography Exhibit

Celebrating the horse with photography is the theme of a Horse Photography exhibit currently at Joebella Coffee Roasters at 3168 El Camino Real in Atascadero.  Exhibit dates are December 1, 2021 – February 28, 2022.

The walls are adorned with photographic prints on canvas.  The main focus is a beautifully-framed featured print hanging above the barista station. Additionally, striking horse images are available on coffee mugs, coasters, and note cards.  All images were created by Lori Sortino of Essence Captured.

When a Horse Photo Becomes Art: Meet the Artist Lori Sortino  | SLO Horse News

Celebrating the Horse with Photography Exhibit

Joebella Coffee Roasters

3168 El Camino Real

Atascadero, California 93422

December 1, 2021 – February 28, 2022

Hours:

Monday – Friday 6:30 am – 3:30 pm

Saturday 7:00 am – 3:30 pm

Sunday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

Lori Sortino Artist Reception Friday, January 14, 2022

The public is invited to the Artist’s Reception on January 14. This is an open house to meet and chat with Artist Photographer Lori Sortino while viewing her horse photos as art.  Lori will provide cookies and the regular Joebella menu of coffee, chai, and teas will be available for purchase.

When a Horse Photo Becomes Art: Meet the Artist Lori Sortino  | SLO Horse News

Artist’s Reception

Joebella Coffee Roasters

3168 El Camino Real

Atascadero, California

Friday, January 14, 2022

2 – 4 p.m.

Cookies & no host coffee bar

How a Horse Photo Becomes Art

When a Horse Photo Becomes Art: Meet the Artist Lori Sortino  | SLO Horse News

Lori Sortino has been a professional photographer since 2006 and an equestrian photographer since 2018. The journey began when she attended a week-long workshop to photograph wild mustangs on a local sanctuary at Return to Freedom.  This was on Lori’s bucket list, and it changed her life.  From the experience she had out among the herds, learning about wild mustangs and herd behavior, taking photographs, and then sitting with the images in the weeks following the workshop, she knew she had finally connected with the subject she was destined to photograph: The horse.

Lori was so excited to attend her first horse photography workshop that she told almost everyone she knew, and invited her friends to a slide show in her home after the workshop.  The response was so positive, she immediately ordered large canvas prints, believing that people wanted these images in their homes.

Since that beginning in 2018, Lori has been exhibiting and selling in local coffee shops and other venues throughout SLO County.  Her work has been displayed at Bru Coffee, Joebella, Incendo, Castoro Cellars, Peachy Canyon, Sculpterra, The Exeter Museum, The Rainbow Hut & Samantha Huston Saddlery, and Kennedy Club Fitness.

Lori’s Vision for Sharing her Horse Photo Art

When a Horse Photo Becomes Art: Meet the Artist Lori Sortino  | SLO Horse News

Artists do art for the love and the joy of creating. However, the joy is multiplied when others enjoy the art and take it home.  It’s a very fulfilling feeling.  But art doesn’t sell itself from inside the closet at the artist’s home. Therefore, Lori finds herself always looking for wall space to hang these photographs in hopes that they find their way into the hearts of other horse lovers like herself.  It means packing the SUV with over a dozen large prints, preparing wall cards with names and prices, and then hanging the show and taking it down when it’s over. 

While it’s hanging at the venue, the artist doesn’t get to experience the response of the people who walk through the door and see the art. An Artist’s Reception allows for that experience.  Lori wants to know which one is your favorite, and what type of image you might be looking for. If you don’t see it hanging in the exhibit (because there are hundreds more images and she can’t print them all for the exhibit) she’ll think of one you’ll like!  Lori wants to hear why horses have meaning for you, and hear stories about any horses that have crossed your path.

Come Experience a Horse Photo as Art

When a Horse Photo Becomes Art: Meet the Artist Lori Sortino  | SLO Horse News

Be sure to meet the Artist Lori Sortino at the artist reception on January 14, 2022 from 2:00 – 4:00 at Joebella Coffee Roasters in Atascadero. If you can’t catch Lori on that day, be sure to stop by the coffee shop before February 28, 2022. Come experience a piece of horse photo art that is big, in front of you, in real time, in real space.

Lori’s image subjects include sanctuary mustangs residing at Return to Freedom (in Lompoc and San Luis Obispo), working ranch horses (Idaho) and horses owned by a variety of breeders. You can see more of her work in her photo gallery.

So head on over to Joebella, get something warm to drink. Walk around and look at every piece hanging. Look through the note cards. Hold one of those mugs in your hand. Maybe you’ll find something you want in YOUR space. Perhaps you will find something you want to give as a gift to another horse lover?


Photo Credit: Lori Sortino of Essence Captured


Come horse around with us in San Luis Obispo County! There are so many ways to horse around in stunning SLO County. To keep this info at your fingertips we have developed a FREE Hot Sheet that will direct you to stories which tell you where you can trail ride, stay with your horse, show and taste. We’ll continue to add horsing around stories to our website. You can stay up-to-date by becoming a SLO Horse News herd member. Get your Horsing Around in SLO County Hot Sheet here >.

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