A Stroke of Talent
From the Winter 2025 Issue
Local paints her way to acclaim
THE ARTIST AT WORK ON “FADE INTO YOU.” ALL PHOTOS BY SELKIRK PEDERSEN.
Local paints her way to acclaim
Stockbroker, veterinary practice manager, interior designer, sign language interpreter, advocate for the underprivileged, landlord, innkeeper, diverse entrepreneur, writer—even one or two of those accomplishments would stand out on a vita. Now, add in award-winning artist.
Heather Mehra-Pedersen can claim all these accomplishments. Achieving degrees in marketing and fine arts from Lehigh University, she headed in the direction of her father’s advice to seek business opportunities over art; however, her mother, who graduated from the Philadelphia School of Art, influenced her to embrace her creative tendencies. Mehra-Pedersen combined her parental advice, which has contributed to her success as a businesswoman and an artist.
One notable creative business venture is Talus Rock Retreat. With her veterinarian husband, Bruce Pedersen, she established Talus Rock, a Sandpoint gem that is two decades strong. An 18-acre resort, Talus Rock offers well-appointed guest rooms and is a venue suitable for couple getaways and weddings. Her creative talent is evident in the building design and eclectically-chic décor, which now includes her paintings.
Her mother, Barbara Pressler, one of the designers behind Sandpoint’s Healing Garden, encouraged 14-year-old Heather to try painting. While she found watercolor to be an unforgiving medium, Mehra-Pedersen found greater success with palette knives and oils, something she discovered after her children had grown and left home. “I was picking up a lost love,” she admitted, referring to going back to painting.
A friend provided a box of her father’s painting tools which included a palette knife, encouraging Mehra-Pedersen to “Go home and try it.” Inspired by the works of impressionist Leonid Afremov, she experimented with the palette knife, reveling in the ease and joy of freely expressing herself on the canvas. Her resulting first work is a captivating, warmly-lit scene of two lovers walking along a boulevard at night.
“I was just as surprised as everyone else,” she commented, reflecting back on her first attempt. From there Mehra-Pedersen continued to experiment, realizing that unlike painting with watercolors, she was now able to cover canvas in large swipes, allowing her to layer the paint to create texture, which suited her favorite topics of animals and landscapes.
MEHRA-PEDERSEN WITH HER MOTHER, BARB PRESSLER, WHOM SHE CREDITS WITH HER ARTISTIC TALENT.
Once she began to paint seriously, her walls began to rapidly fill with her art. Receiving requests for her paintings activated her business acumen as her art began to sell beyond supportive friends and family. In the few years since dedicating serious time to painting, she has created more than 50 canvases. Sometimes finding it difficult to let her paintings go, she captures her original art onto prints and greeting cards, which have sold in the hundreds. So far some of her original paintings have sold for over $10,000. In 2024 she was named the winner of Coeur d’Alene’s Art on the Green poster contest—her first ever entry.
THE VAN PAINTED TO CARRY MEHRA-PEDERSEN’S ARTWORK AROUND TO VARIOUS GALLERIES.
Mehra-Pedersen’s financial success has provided the ability to pursue her art endeavors, while supporting other heartfelt callings such as her compassion ministry, WellConnected. Even though painting is an undeniable passion, her heart is centered on supporting WellConnected (www.wellconnected.org), which she founded before pursuing painting. The organization focuses on raising money to provide wells for areas needing safe, reliable water. Traveling around the world, often with her children, she administers aid on a one-to-one basis, ranging from providing eyeglasses to providing medical clinics. She believes people can do much with a little, citing a story of an ant carrying a grain of sugar. “That ant reminded me I can do something, even if it’s small.” Mehra-Pedersen encourages and inspires people to be the ant by doing what they can with whatever they have.
As a busy person her time is precious. Her choice of a palette knife allows her to express herself with spontaneity, to “get the idea out” when the creative urge strikes, evident in her works which radiate color and texture. Some of her paintings are reminiscent of Van Gogh’s deep, vibrant colors.
MEHRA-PEDERSEN’S TRUE PASSION FINDS EXPRESSION IN WELLCONNECTED, WHICH WORKS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED WORLDWIDE.
Having established herself locally, Mehra-Pedersen is working on reaching out to more art galleries and exhibitions, with an eye on placing her work in major art markets. Her initial attempts to break into the Sun Valley gallery venue were not successful and then a “divine moment” happened when she found herself invited to display her art at the Sun Valley Art Walk. She has since been asked to display her work at the World Cup ski races in Sun Valley in March 2025, and at Gräham Galleries downtown in time for the 2025 Audi FIS Ski World Cup. She anticipates a mid-November opening for her own gallery, which will be located in the Music Conservatory (the former Sandpoint City Hall at 110 Main St.).
Beyond marketing her painting more aggressively Mehra-Pedersen hopes to further develop her style and create a themed series. Ultimately she wants to leave a legacy that inspires others, one that will make her family proud. She does indeed color her life with infectious joy.
Learn more at www.heatherscolors.com
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