Here's A Video To Make Someone Smile

Hi Everyone,

I thought I’d share a cute video that seemed to put a smile on a lot of faces —even normally grouchy ones. (LOL) My goal when making videos and art is to help create health, healing, and happiness in others. Enjoy!

Life Threatening Illness and Evidence-based Art

Have you ever had a life threatening illness? Most of my life was major illness free and then—WHAM!—I ended up in the hospital with 2 major operations within 30 days. It was no picnic, and it took me over a year to recuperate.

From this experience, I learned on a life-or-death level about fears of dying, overcoming physical trauma, fighting for hope, and the need for real evidence-based art. Real evidence-based art uses design principles based on “real medical studies” for human health and healing.

I went on to become EDAC (Evidence-based Design Certified), and often when I paint, my goal is to create beautiful, happy art that soothes and relaxes—but also stimulates. In the recovery process, it’s important to heal (rest and relaxation) but also essential to stay upbeat and in motion (stimulated) for recovery.

Here’s another evidence-based art video for you!

Let's Relax With Evidence-based Art

Take a moment. Take a break. Enjoy a little relaxation with a one minute video with evidence-based art. No sales. No hype. It was created just for you! Evidence-based art uses medical studies in the design process.

The painting in this video was created using Evidence-based Design research. Multiple credible studies now show connections between certain types of art and positive health outcomes.

Wishing you the very best!

Dorothea Sandra, BA, EDAC

An Artist, EDAC Certified, and A Business Plan

People don’t normally associate artists with business plans—but I have one—and my business plan makes EDAC a foundational part of it.

“EDAC stands for Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification.  It is a program that has established new standards for individuals who are using an evidence-based design process for healthcare building projects.” (which includes art)

Some people say EBD (Evidence-based Design) is an “old hat” concept. They say design professionals have been using research to guide their decisions for years and years. 

This is true, and in the 6th century BCE, the Asclepieion hospital in Ancient Greece, which included patient rooms facing eastward to promote healing, may have perhaps used some form of “old hat” research. Today, however, Evidence-based Design has a new focus which not only considers evidence but “strong” evidence.

Other critics say EBD employs “cook book design” strategies. They say decisions made using the Evidence-based Design process focus too much on evidence and not enough on experience or imagination. I once freely created wild abstract art where colors of death (black or white) and pours of blood (red) and the hideous or representational woes of society came together in an image—BUT NOW I DON’T. 

I made a choice—especially since today’s “evidence” shows credible connections between design (which includes art) and positive health outcomes. My “chosen” artistic style/brand is a mixture of landscape and an abundance of flowers, which falls directly inside the type of art connected to positive health outcomes. 

If anything, I think using Evidence-based Design has made me a better artist—not just for myself but for the health, healing and happiness of others.