Lori Mehta says, “My process is to create an accurate drawing, use a wash of paint to determine values, then apply paint. I create a clear set of goals, so I can act freely when applying paint and get absorbed by the activity at hand. There is a state of mind I often enter while painting that I would consider my sweet spot. It is when I am no longer thinking figuratively, and the paint is applied in long strokes, often by maneuvering a brush loaded with paint to form an intricate shape. My preferred brush is flat so that I am able to create a broad stroke and a fine line with a simple twist. I often go back into my paintings, once I have applied the paint, with a palette knife. The unpredictability of using large palette knives in a small area is exciting. Uneven edges, and flat planes of color further simplify my image. I am able to maintain a certain accuracy, because the drawing portion of painting is a very technical exercise for me. The majority of my time on any piece is spent on the drawing. It is during this time that I see beautiful shapes that I can enhance through wide swipes of a brush or knife.”Mehta has an MFA in Printmaking from UK and a BFA in Printmaking from Southampton College of LIU. She also has studied with Zhanna Cantor, Nancy Colella, Page Railsback, and Catherine Kehoe. Active professional memberships: The Cape Cod Art Association, The Newton Art Association, The Wellesley Society of Artists, The Concord Art Association, North River Arts, South Shore Art Association, The Copley Society of Artists, and The Duxbury Art Association.The process of painting is invigorating. It is also a period of time in which I have trained myself to shut out all distractions. There is a purity to this state of mind. I create art because nothing gives me a greater sense of calm and purpose. Our World is complex. We are inundated with information, social media, technology, and overpowering visuals. Quiet moments and everyday things often go unnoticed as we juggle the pace of our modern day world. As my children got older, and this pace subsided a bit, I noticed that my fondest memories were not those of grandeur, but that of a recognizable gesture, or an unsung moment, those which we often see out of the corner of our eye. My hope is that my paintings help the viewer reconsider the beauty of the ordinary and evoke relatable moments.– Lori Mehta