Mary Lou majored in art at William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri. After graduating, she married Arthur Corn and put her career on hold to raise a family. She returned to painting in the 1960’s and has been honing her technique in watercolor ever since. Mary Lou’s classic, hand-painted works are created without the use of slide projectors, computers, or digital enhancement. She has studied with several noted American watercolor artists such as Stephen Quiller and Nina Engle.

Mary Lou has exhibited in national juried shows for the past three decades, receiving awards and recognition both locally and nationally. In 2003, a retrospective show for Mary Lou’s 75th birthday had over 100 of her paintings on display, showcasing the prolific amount of work she has produced. Thousands of pieces were considered from collections all over Missouri.

Mary Lou paints at her home in St. James, Missouri. When she is not painting, Mary Lou loves to work in her sculpture garden. Using materials like rocks, metal scraps, bowling balls, and other found objects, she creates eye catching works of art. Her garden has been featured in several publications and is a local tourist attraction.