Mary Lou was born and raised in central Illinois. From an early age she was encouraged and supported in pursuing her artistic interests. Following a 35 year career as a child psychologist, she began traveling and refocused her attention on painting. She resumed her artistic training through private tutoring and workshops with nationally acclaimed instructors.

She works primarily with pastels, and is inspired by their ability to capture dramatic color and lighting. Her favorite subject matter is the landscape, whether it is fields of the Midwest, beaches of Florida, or views from her foreign travels.

Her work has been shown at exhibitions and juried shows in Illinois and Florida.

She is a member of several art leagues in the Midwest and Southeast including the Illinois Prairie Pastel Society and Southwest Florida Pastel Society.