Interview with Meghna Sharma

Meghna Sharma is an artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Though she works with several mediums, she now specializes in oil painting with a penchant for portraits. The human form and face interest her immensely, and she loves observing people in their natural settings.

Meghna is deeply inspired by brief moments in time—those ordinary glimpses of daily life that, though often unnoticed, brim with profound beauty and emotional resonance. She believes every human face tells a complex story awaiting interpretation, and through her paintings, she strives to bring people and their stories to life.

Her work has been exhibited in several galleries and public spaces throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Meghna is currently a member of The San Francisco Women Artists (SFWA) Gallery.

Website: www.instagram.com/artbymeghnasharma

What drives your fascination with the human form and face in your portraits?

The human form and face interest me immensely, and I love to observe people in their natural settings. Through my paintings, I like to look at people in different walks of life. The human face, with its intricate complexity, can convey a multitude of emotions. Capturing the same on my canvas challenges me as an artist and provides an opportunity to explore varied interpretations.

I am deeply inspired by brief moments in time—those ordinary glimpses of daily life that, though often unnoticed, brim with profound beauty and emotional resonance. I feel that every human face tells a complex story awaiting interpretation, and through my paintings, I try to bring people and their stories to life.

How do you capture the essence of people in their natural settings through your paintings?

I like to study my subjects meticulously and focus on subtle moments that speak to me as an artist. Making myself familiar with my subjects helps me to understand their personalities and gives me insight into who they are. With careful planning and thought, and by using light, shadow, and texture, I aim to bring their stories to life. Whether I'm portraying someone quietly reading their morning paper or capturing the vibrancy of a bustling street scene, I carefully choose environments in my paintings to enrich the stories conveyed through my subjects' expressions.

Can you describe your creative process when beginning a new portrait?

My artistic journey is fueled by a curiosity about people and their stories. Sometimes, as I go about my daily life, a person or scene that I happen to notice inspires me to capture the same on my canvas. At other times, my creative process involves meticulous planning and striving to achieve a composition that resonates with me.

I create my paintings by capturing several photographs, focusing particularly on the interplay of light and shadow as well as the overall composition. The most challenging aspect is crafting the composition, as I aim for my painting to tell a story.
Once I start a painting, it is an immersive and consuming process until the end. At the same time, it’s a deeply fulfilling and invigorating experience.

Being in my studio with my art is a calming, meditative process that is very therapeutic.

How do the themes of identity and daily life influence your work?

I try to find profound connections across my paintings, viewing each piece as an exploration of human emotions and universality. My art acts as a bridge between my perceptions and my audience, fostering shared understanding and empathy through the visual stories I tell.
As a woman trying to find my voice in my artistic journey, I am exploring the themes of identity and womanhood in my paintings. My painting As I Am tries to capture the vulnerabilities and insecurities faced by a middle-aged woman as she takes a moment for herself before the day begins.

Navigating life in a foreign land, I find solace in painting stories of home, friendships, and family. I often paint my daughters, who are growing up to be strong independent women with their own voices. I try to portray their journey and find their confidence and fearlessness in sharp contrast to my own fears and insecurities.

What emotions or messages do you aim to convey through your portraits?

I want my paintings to tell a story and challenge viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the mundane, inviting them to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Through my portraits, I encourage viewers to appreciate the beauty and poetry in every moment. As I evolve as an artist, my commitment to capturing the essence of human experiences remains central to my work. I am perpetually seeking new ways to express this theme, experimenting with different mediums and techniques to enhance my storytelling.

How does your cultural background influence the stories and characters you depict in your art?

I am from India, and my cultural background has had a huge influence on my art. Indian street scenes and people are some of my favorite and recurrent themes in my paintings. Growing up in a small town in India, I was never deprived of inspiration. In the crowded streets and the hustle and bustle of family get-togethers, I had several willing subjects who were happy to have their portraits drawn by me.

At my first solo exhibition in Bangalore, India, in 2021, some visitors remarked on how my paintings of tea vendors and flower sellers resonated with them. They were touched by the focus on everyday individuals from the streets who are usually unnoticed.

My mother has had an enduring influence on my art. She encouraged me to follow my passion from a young age and nudged me to constantly explore and improve. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years ago, my mother is now a frail and fragile image of the independent and strong woman she once was. This setback and experience taught me to appreciate and savor the mundane daily moments in life—finding beauty in the ordinary. My painting Memory tries to capture a moment from my childhood, of me and my sister with my mom in front of the house we grew up in.

In what ways do you see your art evolving in the future, and what new themes or techniques are you excited to explore?

After moving to California, I feel very inspired by the contemporary art space. Over the last few years, I have been part of a cooperative art gallery, had my painting (Lazy Afternoons) selected for The de Young Open 2023, and participated in various juried exhibitions across the San Francisco Bay Area. Engaging with local artists in California and actively participating in various events has been incredibly enriching. These experiences have exposed me to fresh perspectives, diverse themes, and dynamic creative environments, all of which have deeply influenced and provided new inspiration to my artistic journey.

My art has transitioned from traditional portrait art to a more contemporary style. I strongly feel that art has the quiet power to make incredible and far-reaching changes. As I evolve as an artist and incorporate new themes and techniques into my style, I want my art to continue to evoke emotions and tell meaningful stories.