Meet Vedika Mehra

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vedika Mehra. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vedika below.

Hi Vedika, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Being a quiet kid, I spent a lot of time reading and drawing. My mom has always been an inspiration to me—she encouraged my creativity from a young age. She was always painting or doing something creative, though she couldn’t pursue being an artist herself. I believe this is when I first discovered drawing as a means of communication. I loved making greeting cards for my family and friends’ birthdays because it allowed me to express myself in a way that felt comfortable. Reading helped me transform words into visuals, fueling my imagination. I realized that I always wanted to pursue art and design.

I’ve always been fascinated by how art can convey emotions and ideas that words often cannot. For me, finding purpose is an evolving journey rather than a single defining moment. As an illustrator, my purpose is to visually connect with people through my creative practice. Knowing that my stories and illustrations help someone feel seen, understood, or inspired fulfill my sense of purpose.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an illustrator, visual designer, and creative thinker with a passion for crafting meaningful visual narratives. I grew up in Amritsar (Punjab, India) and am currently based in Atlanta, where I am pursuing my MFA in Illustration. My primary focus is on editorial and book illustration. I enjoy expressing my thoughts through visual storytelling, delving into human emotions, experiences, imagination, and personal narratives.
My creative process is rooted in empathy and introspection, and I love using art as a medium to convey emotions that words alone cannot express. My work often features visual metaphors and a graphic style, incorporating shapes, silhouettes, environments, and a touch of whimsy. One of my dreams is to illustrate a book—and perhaps even write and publish it myself.
I am currently open to opportunities in the editorial illustration market, publishing, and advertising. Feel free to explore my work at https://www.vedikamehra.com/ and connect with me.

I am currently really into zines, and printmaking. Checkout my zine on How to cry in Public.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three key aspects that have shaped me and continue to do so are empathy, strong imagination and storytelling skills, and the courage to take the first step. Empathy and observation have helped me connect deeply with human experiences, forming the foundation of my work. Storytelling gives purpose to my illustrations, allowing me to create visuals that resonate emotionally with people. I believe everything is shaped by our thoughts, and it’s our thoughts that make us unique.

As an illustrator and designer, it’s important to be empathetic and aware of how your ideas are communicated. One must always be willing to learn, grow, and adapt. My work evolves because of this willingness to keep learning. It’s through the process that true growth happens. I am open to learning from the people around me and exploring different themes, styles, and approaches to my illustrations.

Being courageous is one of the most important qualities—it takes bravery to share your ideas with the world, to put your stories out there, and to step out of your comfort zone and be vulnerable. As an international student coming to the USA, I had to learn how to be confident, to be able to express myself, step out of my comfort zone, and just try. I strongly believe that if you work hard, remain passionate, stay kind to yourself and others, and stay dedicated to your practice, no matter what you do, life will take care of you in return. And, just believe in yourself.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I am going to answer this not just by saying who, but also by describing what has been most helpful in overcoming challenges and building my skills. Staying curious and being open to learning—whether it’s through experimenting with new techniques, exploring different perspectives, or working on projects outside my comfort zone—has been important. Reflecting on my work and the “why” behind it has also helped me align my efforts with my purpose as an illustrator. Since storytelling is key for me, building my imagination, practicing new skills, and understanding how my work can be applied to various markets has been important. I’ve also recently begun exploring printmaking and motion media, which is enhancing my skills and allowing me to tell stories through different mediums. Persistence for me also has been helpful. Creative work is full of challenges, sometimes I feel like failing and overwhelmed, but staying consistent and trusting the process—no matter how uncertain—has allowed me to continue growing and evolving.
The other important aspect is the people who’ve been most helpful in my journey—those who believed in me. Back home, pursuing art as a career is often undervalued. People don’t always understand what illustration is, and I struggle to explain it when asked. I am the first person in my family to pursue a creative career, and I am incredibly grateful for my family and friends for their support. My parents never made me feel like I couldn’t achieve whatever I set my mind to or become whoever I wanted to be. My brothers and my boyfriend have been my biggest pillars of support.
My professors and peers at SCAD Atlanta have been instrumental in challenging me to think deeper and refine my skills. Their feedback and encouragement have pushed me to take risks, embrace growth, and keep improving. The creative community as a whole is so inspiring. Some of my favorite illustrators include Emiliano Ponzi, Lisk Feng, Owen Gent, and Simone Noronha, among many others.
Each of these influences has helped me overcome challenges and develop the empathy and storytelling mindset that are central to my illustrations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vedikamehra.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vedikamehra_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vedikamehra?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app