Sonoma County Arts Council

A 10% commission from all art sales during Winter Wineland will be donated to 

Sonoma County Arts Council, Youth Art Programs!

According to Wine Road, last years donation was $500 and went to Poetry Out Loud. This years program of choice is still being considered... I’ll keep you posted!

Don't forget I will be donating 10% to Surfrider and Well Trained Horses... 

two amazing non-profits that deserve our support!

Come on out to Longboard Vineyards, 5 Fitch Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448. This Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 4 and support your local wine makers, artists, and non profits!!

Cheers,
Joy

Wandering with Horses through Vineyards

ooo.. this is so much fun...

The environment and non-profits will benefit this year at the Longboard Vineyards tasting room during Winter Wineland...

The photographs on display during Wine Road’s 20th Anniversary Winter Wineland Event (January 14th & 15th) are inspired views of the west county, my world of horses and vineyards, plus a few other visual treasures that make my heart beat a little faster. The pieces have been framed using reclaimed windows from area salvage yards. Helping to reduce the impact that manufactured frames have on the environment.

The journey is long and we can not do it alone, so I have decided to donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of my prints during the Winter Wineland event to a few select non-profits.

Well Trained Horses, a horse rescue, located in Sebastopol, Ca is a place that is dear to my heart. I have been an active volunteer at  Well Trained Horses for over a year and almost all of the equine photography on display is from the rescue. A non-profit run on donations and by volunteers to insure a better, more peaceful future for abused and neglected horses. 10% of the proceeds from any equine print will be donated to the rescue, to assist with the numerous costs associated with the care of these majestic creatures. More information can be found at www.welltrainedhorses.org

For the second non-profit, I will be donating 10% of proceeds from wine themed prints to The Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit that is special to Longboard Vineyards winemaker, Oded. His love of the ocean is shared by many, myself included. In this time of an uncertain environmental future our oceans, waves, and beaches need our help. More information can be found at http://www.surfrider.org

All this giving feels so good... and as an added bonus 10% of ALL proceeds will be donated to the charity of choice for Wine Road!


Cheers,
Joy

a grand passion

"Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of Solitaire. It is a grand passion"

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can visit Ernie, pictured above, and the 12 other beautiful horses of Icssoma Farm.
For more information visit the Well Trained Horses website and Icssoma Farm blog.

For more photography visit joyhamel.com

cheers!
joy

my daughter, the photographer

While volunteering at the stables a few weeks ago, my daughter and I had a fun playing with the horses and taking photos. While I was in the arena with 4 amazing horses, Ernie, was right by my side walking with me like an old friend. It has been a fun game of mine to see which horse will wear my hat. I’ve tried many but have never succeeded until now. My daughter, Montana, camera in hand snapped this great shot!

Steppin Out by Montana Hamel & Joy Hamel

Of course Ernie would be the one to wear the hat, anytime I have my camera that horse lights up! He loves to be photographed and he knows how handsome he is, its like he was striking a pose as soon as I placed the hat on his head. I am so proud of my amazing daughter for capturing such a great moment, even as I was yelling.. MONTANA TAKE THE PICTURE!! She managed to pry herself away from photographing the cat, just in time to get 3 frames of Ernie in the hat.

Limited Edition Fine Art Prints

We have decided to offer limited edition fine art prints of this photograph for sale via Well Trained Horses. 50% of the proceeds go directly to helping rescue horses, like Ernie. The edition is limited to 25 prints selling at $100 dollars each. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist (and her mother).

Win this Print!

You can also try to win one of these prints (and other GREAT prizes) via Well Trained Horses, A Raffle for Rescue Horses. Tickets are 5$ each find out more info at Well Trained Horses.