Sandy White
Sandy finds dot painting incredibly relaxing and enjoys how easily beauty can emerge from a blank surface. Her favorite pieces include an incense burner and a hummingbird feeder, though they’ve worn down from being kept outside, so she plans to repaint the feeder. The piece she finds most beautiful is her peacock trinket box, which she loves for its vibrant colors. Sandy lives in Colony Cove in Indian Wells, a small and secure neighborhood that she appreciates for its close-knit feel. Besides dot painting, Sandy also enjoys crocheting, cross-stitching, and reading. A fun fact about her is that she was a juror on a major public murder trial in 1990, which lasted for an entire year. Her advice to new members is to relax and enjoy the process—there’s no need to compare your work to others, as everyone’s creations turn out wonderfully.
Sandy spent 30 years working for the phone company before retiring at the age of 49. Afterward, she worked at a psychiatric hospital, Eisenhower Hospital, and retail at the Living Desert for six years. She then became a full-time caregiver for both her mother and later her husband after his triple bypass surgery, also helping care for her husband's elderly mother. With both mothers now passed, she stays busy with her daughter, who lives with her, and enjoys spending time with her five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a step-great-grandson.
Kathy Kronemeyer
Kathy enjoys dot painting the most because of the calm and relaxing atmosphere created by the teacher. She finds that the stress of the day just seems to disappear when she attends these classes, allowing her to create beautiful pieces and feel successful. For her, the more often she attends, the more she learns and grows, with her friends and family in awe of her creations. She loves the constant evolution of the designs, always different and creative, making each class something to look forward to. Kathy's favorite piece so far is the Peacock Bowl, which she loved for its colors and design. However, she also had a lot of fun making the Friday the 13th ornament, and she particularly enjoys making ornaments in general.
Kathy lives in La Quinta, where she appreciates the community and the closeness of her friends. She lived in the Cove for 27 years before moving to an apartment just outside of it. La Quinta offers many opportunities for fun and entertainment. In her younger days, she enjoyed walking her dog on various trails and participating in water aerobics at the local pool. Throughout her life, Kathy has had many hobbies. One of her favorite pastimes was helping children write stories and then publishing their books. She learned bookbinding and used a publishing program to create unique covers, finding joy in the process of bringing children's stories to life.
A fun fact about Kathy is that she was named the 2002 Veterans of Foreign Wars California State Teacher of the Year. Her advice for new members is to focus on relaxing and enjoying the process rather than seeking perfection. Sometimes, she thought her projects were not great at first glance, but after they dried, they turned out to be beautiful the next day.
Kathy's background is filled with unique experiences. Growing up as a newspaper migrant child, she moved nearly every year and attended three different high schools in three different states by her sophomore year. She also attended three different colleges before earning her BA, including College of the Desert, San Diego State's branch campus in Calexico, and more. Kathy began her teaching career in 1969, straight out of college, and continued for 40 years in the Desert Sands district. She spent 17 years as a Language Experience teacher and 18 years as a Whole Language Multiage teacher. For five years, she served as the District Sheltered English Specialist and taught many classes on teaching English to second-language learners. Kathy also produced after-school plays for children, with her favorite being "The Trial of the Salton Sea," reflecting her dedication to raising awareness about the importance of saving the Salton Sea. After retiring, she earned her Master’s in Instructional Technology and volunteered for ten years in an after school Garden Club and Children's Writer's Club, publishing hundreds of children's books. Kathy has even published two of her own books, which are available on Amazon.
Melissa Carnes
Melissa finds joy in the fellowship and relaxation that dot painting brings. Her favorite creation so far is a stunning peacock jewelry dish. A resident of Palm Desert, Melissa also enjoys crocheting, easel painting, and planning art projects for preschoolers. With an incredible career spanning 33 years, she owns and runs the Morning Stars Learning Program, a preschool through first-grade program. Married to her high school sweetheart for 51 years, they have four children—a mix of teachers, a carpenter, and a doctor—and are proud grandparents to nine grandchildren.
Melissa’s advice to fellow dotters: "Set back, breathe, and forget your worries. Relax and let Elaine teach you the joy of Mandala painting and what a dot can transform into!" She wakes up every morning feeling truly blessed.
Cyndy Wasko
Cyndy finds dot painting incredibly relaxing. It slows her down and helps distract her mind from insignificant things that tend to nag at her. For her, it has become a spiritual practice. When she lets go of trying to make perfect dots, it becomes a form of meditation. Her favorite pieces include the Notebook Lady and the windcatcher, and she is currently working on designs to paint on journals and give as Christmas gifts. Cyndy and her husband moved to California in 1989, lived in Alameda for 30 years before retiring to Palm Desert in 2020. She loves the weather in the desert for about 10 months of the year and then escapes for a few weeks to take a break from the heat.
Cyndy has a rich background in the arts. She took lots of art classes in high school and college. While her career focused more on social services and education, she expressed her creativity through developing lesson plans and finding better ways to serve communities. Now retired, she is getting back into visual and expressive arts, currently playing with watercolors. A lifelong crafter, Cyndy has decorated homes, fire halls, and community centers for events. She enjoys baking, especially pretty cookies for the holidays, and has made cards for kids with cancer and seniors in care centers. Cyndy loves to play with colors and explore their energy.
Her advice to new dot painters is to "Relax! Fill yourself with the process and let the colors lead you.”
Diane Trikakis
Diane loves dot painting because of the endless possibilities that color brings. Different colors can evoke various feelings and moods, and the variety of creative techniques allows her to tailor each project to be as simple or as challenging as she desires in the moment. She enjoys that she can complete something beautiful in one sitting and usually feels satisfied with both the process and the outcome. Her favorite piece so far is a 10” x 10” canvas with stacked squares, created using one of her favorite color combinations. She notes that it’s similar to a recent design done with square box tops.
Diane lives in La Quinta, where she enjoys participating in programs and activities in the Old Town and Cove areas. She appreciates the friendly people and the cozy atmosphere of her community. A lifelong crafter, Diane has explored nearly every craft, with the exception of stained glass. In recent years, her most consistent interest has been creating handcrafted greeting cards. She also loves to travel, especially to natural settings. While she is no longer an active musician, music still holds a special place in her life. A fun fact about Diane is that she loves to whistle!
Her advice to new members is simple: "Take a big deep breath and just go for it. Don’t judge your work negatively because the end results will quite likely surprise and please you."
Diane's background is in Occupational Therapy in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, where she worked for most of her 38-year career. In her role as an OT, engaging in activities is key. Craft participation, adjusted to each client's best abilities, helps in learning and practicing life skills necessary for successful independent living. Through purposeful activity, clients can develop a range of skills, including self-esteem, relaxation, problem-solving, and executive functioning. For Diane, crafts are more than just a hobby; they are a vital part of her life's work and passion for helping others.