artist statement

I am many things. Here, I'm a watercolor artist.

Watercolors found me when I was about to become a mom. I painted with the belief that my baby would connect with that creative energy (he has, the little painterly scamp!). Little did I know that I would rediscover my own childlike enthusiasm for painting.

I love light. It is the essence of my paintings. I strive to paint the child behind the radiant smile; the wonder in sunlight spilling across almonds soaking in a bowl of water; to bring life to mangoes that soon will bring joy to somebody.

When I find myself lost in details, it’s light that brings the focus back to me. When I am overwhelmed by choice, light brings out the simpler story within each scene. And when I’m afraid inspiration has abandoned me, it is the fleeting magic of the light within us all that returns it to me.

About

Megha Mehra is a watercolor artist.

She was born and raised in Bangalore, India. Like most children, she loved to draw, imitating her mother’s painting styles. But as with many kids, she fell into the rat race and did not seriously take up painting for years.

Ten years ago, she moved to Virginia. Her journey into watercolors began shortly thereafter when she was blessed with a son. As a self-taught artist, her approach is honest and bold.

Megha Mehra’s watercolors have been exhibited at solo shows across Virginia. Her work, 'Play, Pause, Reflect' won the 'Ralph Smith Memorial Award of Excellence' award at the 40th annual exhibition of the Virginia Watercolor Society. In 2020 she was featured as the Brand Ambassador of the week in American Watercolor Weekly magazine. She also received the ‘National Watercolor Society’ award at the PVW show. She also attained Signature status at the Virginia Watercolor Society in 2020. She believes strongly in using her work to give back to society. Last year, her painting ‘The Gift’ was auctioned to raise money for an orphanage.

Megha is very passionate about teaching and offers workshops offline/online for watercolor novices and journeymen artists. Her private collectors reside in the USA, UK & India.

SOLO SHOWS

• 2017: Gum Spring Library, Virginia

• 2017: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Sterling, Virginia

• 2019: SOLO show, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, Virginia.

• 2020: SOLO show, Leesburg Town Hall, Virginia.

Awards & Honors

• 2018: Exhibited, “Seva (Selfless Service)”, 39th Annual Virginia Watercolor Society

• 2018: 1st prize in “Artistic Challenge” contest March 2018

• 2018: Auctioned, “The Gift”, Sahaita charity event

• 2019: IWS, selected Virginia representative

• 2019: Exhibited, “The good life”, Art League, Alexandria

• 2019: Juror at the Kerala Association in DC

• 2019: Exhibited, “Play, Pause, Reflect”, 40th Annual Virginia Watercolor Society, Virginia

• 2019: “Ralph Smith Memorial Award of Excellence” at the 40th Annual Virginia Watercolor Society, Virginia

• 2019: Won ‘Among Best 50' award for “Between a brick and my dreams”, GAWA Annual International Watercolor Online Contest

• 2019. Exhibited, “The good life”, Central Virginia Watercolor Society, Charlottesville, Virginia

• 2019: Won “Appreciation Award” for “Play, Pause, Reflect”, Abu Rawash International Online Contest

• 2019: Exhibited, “When I grow up”, International Watercolor Society (IWS) Albania

• 2019: Exhibited: “Between a brick and my dreams”, (IWS) India

• 2020: Exhibited, “When I grow up”, Potomac Valley Watercolor Artists (PVW) Online show

• 2020: Won the Top award, National Watercolor Society (NWS) for “When I grow up”, Potomac Valley Watercolor Artists (PVW) Online show.

• 2020: Won “Honorable Mention”, WomenInWatercolor (WIW) show

• 2020: Selected “Between a brick and my dreams” as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the May BoldBrush Painting competition by FASO

• 2020: Won “Outstanding Watercolor” for “Between a brick and my dreams” in the May BoldBrush Painting competition by FASO

• 2020: Exhibited, “Living on my terms’, Virginia Watercolor Society, Richmond

• 2020: Attained Signature Status at Virginia Watercolor Society.

• 2024: Finalist ‘Best of Loudoun 2024’ in Artist category

NEWS

• 2020: Featured as the Brand Ambassador of the week in American Watercolor Weekly magazine.

• 2020: Featured ‘Guest Artist’ on the Doodlewash.com website.

• 2021: Featured on ‘Yay Learner’ podcast

• 2023: Featured on ‘Global Television Networks Broadcast on FOX5 PLUS. Washington, DC’.

• 2024: Featured ‘Best of Loudoun 2024, Finalist’ in Artist category