New paintings by Melissa Graves Brown invite you to wander into enchanted groves and rest in the shade of multi-hued foliage. Vibrant jewel-toned colors mingle on canvas for a look that is pure wow! Melissa has sent Chemers Gallery seven of her most recent pieces, each one more gorgeous than the last.

A Florida native, Melissa earned her Bachelors of Fine Art from Auburn University and her Masters of Fine Art from the University of Pennsylvania. Her inspiration comes from the natural landscape of Idaho, where she currently resides with her husband, daughter and son. Together, the foursome are a hive of creativity in their home studio. Memories of the swirling leaves that welcomed her to the Wood River Valley are imprinted in Melissa’s mind which she captures again and again in her art.

Melissa’s talents are expressed in layers of color that eventually take the shape of vivid vistas. It’s no surprise that this talented artist has been largely influenced by color theory and the color field paintings of the Abstract Expressionist movement! She approaches painting with intuition and intention, carefully choosing her pigments and letting the composition evolve naturally.

Viewed as a whole, Melissa’s “PleasanTrees” form a magical, mystical world of wonder. Don’t be shy, get up close to the canvas and see where the magic truly happens! You’ll be amazed at the complex layers of color that dance and swirl to form a shimmering, multi-dimensional painting. Leaves that appear to be mostly gold, yellow and orange also contains red, green and purple! Melissa’s underpainting peeks out from the top layers of acrylic paint to introduce unexpected tonal content within her canvases.

Of course, words and pictures can only convey so much…
The best way to experience the atmosphere of Melissa’s paintings is in person at Chemers Gallery!