Resume

Brief Bio

Known for her vivid, textured oil paintings characterized by interpretive impressionism, Lynn Mehta is an award-winning artist living in Virginia. Her art is a reflection of her connection to the ever-changing visual world around, blending abstract shapes and forms inspired by a wide range of landscapes and elements. 

Growing up along the Pacific Ocean, Mehta has been an artist as long as she can remember and was inspired by the work of her mother who painted outside. Mehta earned her B.A. in Art from San Diego State University, and has studied with an impressive list of  acclaimed artists in the US and abroad.

A distinguished member in a host of organizations, Mehta holds Signature Membership Status in the American Impressionist Society, the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association, and the American Society of Marine Artists. Her broad membership includes the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, and Oil Painters of America.

Mehta’s artwork graces galleries, private and public collections, books, and magazines worldwide. Museum and public collectors include the Maryhill Museum of Art in Washington, the National Institutes of Health,  and Acadia National Park Artists-in-Residency.

Selected Events and Competitions

2024

  • Carmel Art Festival, CA
  • Gloucester Plein Air Invitational, VA
  • Paint Grand Traverse, MI

2023

  • American Impressionist Society Online Juried Exhibition
  • 4th Annual Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Squared Exhibition, Finalist, CA
  • Paint Grand Traverse, MI
  • Gloucester Plein Air Invitational, VA, Best Agricultural Award
  • American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, Knoxville, TN
  • Lighthouse Plein Air, Tequesta, FL
  • Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Columbia River, Maryhill Museum, WA

2022

  • Brandywine Plein Air, DE  1st Place
  • Salmagundi Club Fall Auctions, Sylvia Maria Glessman Floral Prize
  • Bath County Plein Air, VA Judge’s Choice Award
  • 28th Annual Maritime Exhibition, Coos Bay, OR
  • 16th Annual Less is More Exhibition, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, CA
  • Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Columbia River, Best Cultural Award, Maryhill Award, and Museum Purchase Prize
  • 17th Annual Frank Bette Plein Air, Alameda, CA “Island Award”
  • Estes Valley Plein Air, CO 3rd Place
  • Salmagundi Club Spring Auctions, Certificate of Merit
  • Oil Painters of America 31st Annual Juried Competition, Steamboat Springs, CO
  • Coastal Virginia Plein Air Quick Draw,  2nd Place Quick Draw Award
  • Coastal Virginia Plein Air Juror of Awards
  • Plein Air New Bern, NC

2021

  • Oil Painters of America, 30th National Exhibition, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA
  • American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
  • Oil Painters of America Juried Salon Show, Gainesville, GA
  • American Impressionist Society,  All-Member Online Juried Show
  • Salmagundi Annual Members Juried Show, New York, NY
  • Coastal Virginia Plein Air
  • Plein Air New Bern, NC
  • Mountain Maryland Plein Air
  • Gloucester Plein Air Invitational, VA: Juror’s Choice Juried Quick Draw Award
  • St George Island Paint Out, FL, 1st Place Quick Draw Award
  • Juror of Show: Paint It! Ellicott City, MD
  • Juror of Show: Mattawoman Creek Art Center, Annual Juried Show, MD

2020

  • American Impressionist Society: Signature Member Status Awarded
  • Juror of Show: Falls Church Plein Air, VA
  • Paint Annapolis, Annapolis, MD: Annapolis Gallery Association Award
  • Salmagundi Club Annual Members Juried Show, New York, NY
  • American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, Fredericksburg, Texas
  • Washington Society of Landscape Artists, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA

2019

  • American Impressionist Society 20th National Juried Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York
  • American Society of Marine Artists, West Regional Exhibition, Channel Islands Maritime Museum
  • Washington Society of Landscape Artists, Spak Gallery, Washington, DC
  • 26th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition, Coos Art Museum, Oregon
  • Los Gatos Plein Air, California
  • Paint Annapolis
  • 3-person exhibition: Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, Maryland
  • Coastal VA Plein Air: 3rd Place
  • Arts-on-Main Artist-in-Residency, 1 month, Gloucester, Virginia

2018

  •  Salmagundi Club Annual Thumb Box Show, Certificate of Merit
  • The Art League, Alexandria, VA, Honorable Mention
  • Juror of  ShowGreat Falls Plein Air
  • Tallinn en Plein Air Exhibition, Poska Villa, Tallinn, Estonia
  • Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association: Signature Member Status Award
  • Nautical Show, Salmagundi Club Honorable Mention
  • Mountain Maryland Plein Air Juried Competition
  • Parrsboro Plein Air, Quick Draw: Honorable Mention
  • Paint Annapolis, Juried Artist, Quick Draw: 1st Place Juried & People’s Choice
  • Paint Snow Hill, 1st Place Artist Choice
  • East Beach Plein Air Invitational, Virginia Beach
  • Rice Gallery of Fine Art 3rd Annual National Juried Plein Air Show, Honorable Mention 

2017

  • American Society of Marine Artists, Signature Member Status Awarded
  • American Society of Marine Artists, Invitational Show at Lyme Art Association
  • Washington Society of Landscape Artists at The Atheneum, Alexandria, VA
  • Hudson Valley Plein Air Festival, Honorable Mention & Best Nature Award
  • Washington Society of Landscape Painters Annual Banquet, 3rd Place
  • Art in the Open, Wexford, Ireland : Quick Draw Sponsor Award
  • Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition, Best Use of Light Award
  • Gloucester Invitational, Juried Artist Quick Draw 2nd Place
  • American Impressionist Society Inaugural Small Works Showcase Juried Exhibition, Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, California

2016

  • BSSS Queen City Plein Air Festival: Best of Show
  • Staunton Quick Draw Art Competition, 1st Place
  • Women Painters of the Southeast Exhibition: 4th Place
  • Finger Lakes Plein Air Competition
  • Capitol Hill Art League Juried Exhibition, Hill Center Galleries. Juror’s Choice Award
  • Los Gatos Plein Air, Silicon Valley, California
  • 2-person Show: Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo, Maryland
  • 3-person Show: Ballard Gallery, Little Washington, Virginia

2015

  • American Impressionist Society 16th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Trailside Galleries, Scottsdale, Arizona
  • 87th Grand National Exhibition, The American Artists Professional League, New York, NY: Materials Award
  • Paint Annapolis, Best Painting Incorporating Water Award,  Juried Artist Quick Draw 2nd Place
  • Salmagundi Spring Auction Exhibition, Thomas Moran SCNY Award
  • Piedmont Plein Aire Paint Out, North Carolina

2014

  • Salmagundi 106th Annual Thumb-Box Exhibition, Certificate of Merit
  • Piedmont Plein Aire Paint Out, 3rd Place
  • Bath County Plein Air Festival
  • Plein Air Shenandoah Invitational
  • 4-person show: Chesapeake Fine Art Studio, Kent Island, Maryland
  • 28th Annual Invitational Oxford Fine Arts Fair, Maryland
  • Paint Annapolis: 2nd Place
  • Mattawoman Creek Art Center Juried Exhibit, Best of Show
  • Paint Snow Hill, Artists Choice Award

2013

  • Solo Show: East Alcove Gallery, National Institute of Health
  • Small Wonders National Juried Exhibit, Maryland Federation of Art, Juror’s Choice Award
  • Easels in Frederick, Best Rural Landscape/Town Award
  • Callaway Gardens Plein Air Competition, Georgia
  • Hammonton, NJ 6th Annual Plein Air Competition, 1st Place
  • April All-Media Exhibition, Capitol Hill Art League, 1st Place
  • March All-Media Exhibition, Capitol Hill Art League, 1st Place
  • Winter Member Exhibit, Maryland Federation of Art, Juror’s Choice Award

2012

  • Third Annual Plein Air Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, Open Box M Merit Award
  • Art in the Open Plein Air Painting Event, Wexford, Ireland
  • Plein Air Brandywine, Artist’s Choice for Best Artist Award
  • Plein Air 757, Virginia Beach,  Plein Air Magazine Merit Award
  • Solo Show: VOLT Gallery, Artique Underground, Frederick, Maryland
  • Solo Show of 80 works: Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo, Maryland
  • Solo Show: Meet-the-Artist at La Piccolo Roma, Maryland Federation of Art
  • Cranford Plein Air Festival, New Jersey
  • San Luis Obispo Plein Air, California

2011

  • The American Artists Professional League 83rd Grand National Exhibition, New York, NY, John Collins Memorial Award
  • Solo Show: East Gallery, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD
  • San Luis Obispo Plein Air, California
  • Mountain Maryland Plein Air
  • Plein Air Brandywine Valley
  • Chadds Ford Annual Winter Plein Air Paint Out
  • Out and About Norfolk Plein Air Competition In The French Tradition Award
  • “Strokes of Genius” National Show, Maryland Federation of Art, Caruso Award For Painting
  • Solomons Paint the Town: Quick Draw Award, 2nd Place
  • February All-Media Show. Capitol Hill Art League, Best Of ShowMembers’ Gallery,
  • Solo Show: Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts, VA. 

2010

  • Out and About Plein Air Competition, Norfolk, Virginia
  • Solo Show: Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts
  • 2-person Show:  Philip Carter Winery of Virginia, Hume, VA

2009

  • Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition
  • Solomons Plein Air Competition

Residencies

  • Artist-in-Residency, Arts on Main, Gloucester, VA, February 2019.
  • Acadia National Park Artist Residency, May 2016.
  • Community Residency, The Compact C-Scape Dune Shack, Cape Cod National Seashore, November 2011.
  • Nimrod Hall Summer Arts Program for Artists, Bath County, VA. Summers 2008-12.

Education

  • San Diego State University, emphasis Environmental Design, B.A. Art
  • workshops and classes with internationally acclaimed artist in the U.S. and abroad
  • Smithsonian World Art History Certificate

Membership

  • American Impressionist Society, Signature Member
  • American Society of Marine Artists, Signature Member
  • Maryland Federation of the Arts, Annapolis, MD
  • Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association, past Board Member, Signature Member
  • Oil Painters of America, Juried Membership
  • Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, Juried Membership
  • The Art League, Alexandria, VA
  • The American Artists Professional League, New York, NY,  Fellow
  • Washington Society of Landscape Painters, Washington, DC, Juried Membership

Publications

“Artistically Speaking with Lynn Mehta: Painting on Location.” The Lake-Front. 5 May 2019.  http://www.lakefrontmagazine.com/artistically-speaking-with-lynn-mehta-painting-on-location/

Christian, Michelle Brosco. “Plein Air Painting: A Breath of Fresh Air.” Southern Maryland This Is Living 13.1 (2011): 27-29. Print.

Doherty, Steve.  “Artist Profile: Structured ‘Messes’.” Plein Air Magazine, September 2016: pp. 48-52.  Print.

Doherty, Steve. “Paint in New York City.” Outdoor Painter., 22 Sept. 2012. Web. 02 July 2013. http://www.outdoorpainter.com/featured-events/paint-in-new-york-city.html

Fesperman, Will. “Plein air competition draws painters into the streets of Annapolis.”. The Baltimore Sun.
Web. 29 June 2014. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/annapolis/bs-md-ar-paint-annapolis-20140629-story.html

“First Artist in Residence to speak at Arts on Main”. Daily Press. 11 Feb 2019. https://www.dailypress.com/blogs/dp-ugc-article-first-artist-in-residence-to-speak-at-arts-on-20102-11-story.html

“Hiking Rough Terrain to Paint Spectacular Scenes” Outdoor Painter, 19 August 2013. https://www.outdoorpainter.com/hiking-rough-terrain-to-paint-spectacular-scenes/

“Lynn’s Landscapes.” The Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg, VA] 3 Mar 2011, Weekender sec.: 13. Print.

“Lynn Mehta Makes an Impression” Rapp News. Web. 9 January 2014. http://rappnews.com/2014/01/09/the-rapp-for-jan-9/

Magner, Jim. “Artist Profile: Lynn Mehta”.  “Art and the City”. Hill Rag [Washington, DC] February 2016: 114-15.  HillRag.com 02 March 2016.  http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/art-and-city-30

Pendleton, Gary. 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2014. pp. 170-71.

Rameswaram, Sean. “Take a Hike.” “Art Beat” With Sean Rameswarem. WAMU 88.5 American University Radio. 5 May 2011. Radio.

Taylor, Sara K. “Making an Impression.” Maryland Independent 27 Apr. 2011, sec. B: 5. Print.

“Update Rail Trail Art.” Charles County Update. CCGTV. Cable Access Channel, La Plata, Maryland, 19 Apr. 2011. Charles County Government. Television. 9 June 2011. http://openstream.charlescounty.org/mediaVideoExternal.jsp?&file=/CC_updates/2011/Updaterailtrailart.mp4

Teaching Experience

Beverly Street Studio School, Staunton, VA:

  • “How to Loosen Up your Paintings” – Spring 2022
  • “Building Better Landscapes: Improving your Studio Paintings” – Fall 2019
  • “Using Color Studies for Bigger and Better Landscape Painting” – Fall 2018, Spring 2019
  • Bigger and Better Landscape Painting” Spring 2018.

Chesapeake Fine Art Studio, Stevensville, MD:

  • Zoom Online Classes – July 2020 – July 2021
  • “Thursday Classes” – October 2018 – December 2019
  • “Saturday Mornings with Lynn: Learn, Create, Explore”. January- March 2018.

Mattawoman Creek Art Center, Marbury, MD:

  • “Plein Air Workshop”.  Identifying and translating elements of a scene that are inspiring for a successful plein air painting. June 2017.
  • “Bringing the Outdoors In”. Studio Workshop focusing on using memory, photographs, and outdoor sketches. May 2013.
  • “Landscape Painting from Photographs, Sketches and Memory”. March 2012.

Weekend Workshops and Live Painting Demonstration Include:

  • “Painting with Color and Expression – 3 day Workshop”, Arts-on-Main, Gloucester, VA, February 2022.
  • “Inspiration to Completion – An Artist Workshop” Coastal Virginia Plein Air, April 2022.
  • “Painting the Impressionist Landscape” MAPAPA demo, Exmore, VA, September 2017
  • MAPAPA Winter Plein Air Demo at Chesapeake Fine Art Studio, January 2017.
  • “Painting Sunsets Quickly Plein Air”, Oxford Fine Art Fine, 2012.

Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA:

  • Art Program Head Summer Counselor 2003-2008.
  • Art Director After School Program 2003-2008.

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