Lila Dudley
219 Rainbow Dr.
 PMB 11993
Livingston, TX 77399-2019
928-685-4377 Cell 928-671-0849
Mich.# 906-875-6062
Dudley@escapees.com

I started painting in 1975 when my husband, Steve, told me I needed to get a hobby and get out of the house. A friend and I found a tole painting class and we were on our way. I started painting using the Wet on Wet technique. I discovered the Society of Decorative Painters and joined the chapter in Peoria, Illinois, where as a member over several years I served as secretary, president & seminar chairman.

Painting was a new world for me, all the new things, paints, wood, books, books and more books. I have studied with several national teachers. In Omaha, Nebraska I studied with Ann Kingslan, and I am an accredited teacher of Ann's method. Later I met Mary Owens at a convention and really liked her painting method. Our chapter brought Mary in for a two day seminar and I was hooked and attended several seminars that Mary held.

I stopped painting for about 5 years after my husband retired, while we traveled. When I started to paint again I really found out what "use it or lose it" meant and had to practice my skills again.

April of 2003 I went to Las Vegas, Nevada and attended a "One Stroke" certification class with Donna Dewberry, where I became a certified "One Stroke" instructor. In early 2003 I found the Mary Owens website and discovered her certifications classes. At that time only 3 classes were scheduled before Mary was stopping her certification program. I attended her class in Lockport, New York, July 2003, and I received my Christmas present from Mary, December 2003. I am now a certificated instructor in the Mary Owens painting method.

Steve & I raised 6 children and have 8 grandchildren. We did craft shows for 10 years where my painting was a major part of our products. THEN RETIREMENT. We went to Alaska in a Motor Home for a 47 day Caravan and six months later started a new adventure as Wagon Masters for the RV caravan company. After selling our home in Illinois we began leading RV caravans thru Mexico, United States, Canada, Alaska and Europe. We did this for about five years. We have a cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where we spend the summers and we winter near Wickenburg, Arizona, North West of Phoenix. I have been teaching in both areas and really enjoy doing this. I have access to all of Mary Owens patterns and supplies and can provide these for you. We still have our motor home and I am willing to travel in the West during the winter and in the Midwest during the summer months to teach the Mary Owens painting method.