Lord's "Mahogany Fish," a pastel drawing of three colorful fish swimming in inky waters, is already selling quickly.  The original will be up for bids during a silent auction at the Art Fair.
"I think they were looking for something a bit different," Lord said. "I submitted some Art Fair scenes and landscapes, but they chose the fish instead."  

When asked what inspires her work, Lord's voice produces an audible smile as she talks about the deep connection she feels with landscape around Salem and Silverton, where she lives.  

"My art looks like the Willamette Valley -- that's my inspiration. I've lived here forever and my work really reflects the landscape here. I've done Cycle Oregon three times, I run and I ride horses around here, so I'm very affected by the landscape. This area just gets into your blood," she says.

"On my run this morning, I saw how the flower fields are starting to grow. I love watching how the shapes, the colors change daily with the seasons."

For the past five years Lord has been working primarily in pastel, but recently she returned to painting some larger-scale works in acrylic.  At Art Fair she plans to display lots of colorful pastel drawings, acrylic paintings, cards and prints, all in a variety of sizes and prices.