Lilly was born in Paterson, N.J. one of 9 brothers and sisters. As a child she was blessed by teachers who helped develop her love for the cultural aspects of education. Due to the family financial situation, the Depression and her Father’s death, it was obvious there would not be money to pursue art lessons of any sort. Therefore this was a dream that was shelved for many years. However she did fulfill her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse!
As a child, she had always been moved by the beauty of the changing seasons and a strong desire to paint. No formal art training was obtained until she had a serious heart attack in 1980. It was at this point in her life that she finally “made time” for the creative activity that provided both relief from stress along with personal joy and fulfillment. While still active in real estate, she would create an original oil painting to present to her buyers as a housewarming gift. This came to a halt for her heart problems caused her to fully retire on disability in 1985. Yet God provided this time in her life as an opportunity to pursue oil painting with more zest than ever. Her latest challenge has been to try her talents in using pastel through encouraging workshops.
Lilly Miley has been a Prescott resident since 1988. Formerly she had lived in Phoenix, AZ and had juggled two varied careers, one as a Registered Nurse and then as a Real Estate broker for 23 years. She has been married to Douglas Miley, also an artist since 1993 and is happy that they can share their love for painting and the arts together.
She has studied and taken workshops and classes with Barbara Bond, Joanna Hensley, Bonnie Casey, Tom Talbot, Peggy Wrobleski, Ernie Wallace and Leslie DeMille, using oil as her preferred medium. Being an avid walker has provided her with opportunities to photograph scenes for use as future reference. Her subject matter ranges from the beauty found in the ever-changing seasons as displayed in the serenity of landscapes, and desert flowers and scenes, to floral still life, Indian pottery and especially old missions. These are created with bold and vibrant strokes and colors using both palette knife and brush. The results often end up with an impressionistic style of layering and a great deal of texture.
She is a member of the Mountain Artists Guild, Southwestern Artists Association, Prescott Valley Arts Guild and Prescott Fine Arts Association. Her paintings are frequently exhibited at Mountain Artist Gallery, and Prescott Fine Arts Gallery in Prescott, AZ and Athena’s Gallery in Prescott, AZ.