Southern California native, Carolyn Lord (1956- ) was introduced to the California Regionalist Watercolor Tradition by James Green while attending Principia College in Elsah, IL. Her Liberal Arts studies included Botany and Architectural History, which have been enduring motifs throughout her career.

Lord's Early career capitalized on watercolor's portability. There were road trips in the Western United States as well as international trips to France, Italy, Denmark, Brazil, US and British Virgin Islands, Mexico, French Polynesia, and France. Lord's mid-career work has been focused on the vernacular architecture, landscapes and gardens of her home state California. Lord has added oil painting as an additional facet to her career and is refining her drawing skills through workshops at ateliers. As her painting career developed, some of the aesthetic aspects of the Arts and Crafts period; Tonalism, and Impressionism are seen in her art work.