Rita Warner has been teaching art and decorating for over 25 years, beginning in the fields of oil painting and metal sculpture. She then joined the Society of Decorative Painters, taught decorative painting in both her own studios and at state and national conventions, attained the degree of Certified Decorative Artist (CDA) and passed the floral portion of Master Decorative Artist (MDA) with that society.

In 1983, Rita began faux finishing, doing custom walls and furniture for clients throughout the Southeast. In 1992, she opened her teaching studio, Custom Accents, Inc. in Roswell, Georgia, teaching students in a variety of classes from interior decorating for the home owner to decorative painting, faux finishing and furniture painting.

In 1996 Rita broadened the scope of the school, setting up a national training school, Decorating Masters Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. D.M.I. Offers a curriculum and training program for teachers and custom artists from across the country, who are interested in starting or improving their own business in faux finishing and the decorative arts. As a master faux finisher and artist, she also teaches the majority of classes at DMI. Rita's forte in teaching, is her ability to simplify techniques and break them down so they can be easily mastered by anyone.

Currently, in addition to operating Decorating Masters with her husband, Ron, Rita is also active as a custom muralist, faux finisher and decorative artist. She has also been a guest artist, many times, on HGTV and the Discovery Channel.