Visual Fitness for Positivity & Wellness | | |
I had the privilege of serving as a teaching artist and presenter in residence at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, for 2 weeks beginning January 3rd. The goal of my interactive sessions was to help guests cultivate “new eyes” by leading visual fitness workshops designed to nurture creativity, encourage personal insight, and inspire growth. Drawing inspiration from the resilience of artist Frida Kahlo and the uplifting teachings of Rancho La Puerta’s co-founder, Deborah Szekely (at 103 years old,) participants explored Mexican artworks and engaged hands-on creative exercises to expressing personal meaning.
Over the years, I have drawn deep inspiration from Deborah Szekely’s wise words, painting her thoughts as a creative practice. When she turned 100, a book of her wisdom was published: 100 Lessons from a Grasshopper. Most recently, I painted my second version of her book's Lesson 49, encouraging us to “Practice the re-'s! renew, refresh, reawaken, relax, reconnect, reimagine, recreate, recharge, restore, redirect.” The piece above is accompanied by photographs of Deborah, who, as an impactful wellness advocate, continues to inspire.
For more insight into my residency and artistic process, please click on the button (right) to read my interview and posted blog: Seeing With Endurance: Frida Kahlo, Deborah Szekely, and the Art of Visual Fitness.
| | | Central to our Visual Fitness creative process were the Marking & Mapping® techniques, enabling guests to engage deeply with their artistic journeys. These line and color exercises culminated in the creation of personal Virtue Maps™, intended to foster transformation, positivity, and a heightened sense of connection within the community through the shared power of art. Each Virtue Map was meditatively designed and inspired by Deborah's Practicing the Re-s! and other Lessons as well as The Virtue Project™ Reflection Cards. I have compiled these contributions into a Positivity Quilt (below), beautifully illustrating our unity as a community and echoing Deborah’s message of optimism and hope. | |
Take a closer look:
In this artwork, Karen Nardi attempted to generate a limitless number of Re-s!. She's still thinking about it...
| | | | More on Positivity & Wellness | | Back home in the US, challenged by the area's coldest/snowiest and politically darkest of winters, I continued to focus on positivity and wellness in my speaking, teaching, and writing activities, briefly shared below: | | On January 18, 2026, along with two other artists from Chevy Chase Art (Ch/Art), I presented an interactive artist talk connected to our organization's Finding Joy exhibition at Friendship Heights Village Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. My Visual Fitness talk ended by actively engaging everyone in a brief, hands-on creative “workout” designed to spark both insight and creativity. After the activity, attendees had the opportunity to share their Marking & Mappings of the virtues of Anger and Joy using Betty Edwards' accessible Analog drawing approach. | | In late January and February, I taught an online five-week class entitled "Illuminating Positivity: Transforming Inspirational Words into Art" for Smithsonian Associates Studio Arts. Students tapped into the power of uplifting language transform meaningful words—quotes, poems, lyrics, mantras, or personal affirmations—into expressive works of art. Using white, metallic, and colorful tools on black, toned, and white papers, they explored positive virtues such as gratitude, love, and unity, creating a set of unique Virtue Maps that reflect personal inspirations, ideals, and purpose. Some were assembled into the Positivity Quilt 2026, below: | | Recently, I've submitted a chapter entitled "Visual Fitness for All" for a new book Integrating the Visual Arts in Health and Wellness: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Edited by Angela La Porte, Susan Whiteland, Peg Speirs, & Lori Don Levan, the book will be published by Routledge/NAEA. | |
Visual Fitness Upcoming Workshops
EXPAND YOUR CREATIVITY
| | In our relentless digital world, although we can't "unsee," we can SEE MUCH MORE. Using Form+Theme+Context (FTC) for a balanced way of seeing leads to deeper understanding and meaningful creative expression. Renee Sandell | | |
Visual Journaling: Creativity Workout
Saturdays 1:00 - 4:00 PM ET on Zoom
| | Discover and stretch your creative muscles and deepen your visual thinking skills as we engage in 8 different warm-up and hands-on visualization exercises. Open to all art levels from novice to professional; Bring a family member or friend. Join us for a unique, fun, and eye-opening experience! Select and sign up for a date below: | | View ALL Visual Fitness Workouts HERE | | Learn More about Visual Fitness 4 All: See Video Interview on YouTube | | Our eyes have to be open to what we do not wish to see. Timothy Snyder | | |
BE WELL, STAY SAFE, & SEE MORE!
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As always, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for your support!
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Renee Sandell, PhD
Visual Fitness 4 All
| | Copyright © 2026 Renee Sandell, All rights reserved. | | | | |
