Los Angeles-based painter Melissa Moss makes artwork that seems fit for a children's fairy tale. From her graceful, curtseying trees to her odd little nubbin creatures resting beneath the splayed gills of gigantic mushrooms, these paintings beg for a fanciful storyline. And her use of color? Visually arresting, to say the least. As Melissa writes in her artist's statement,"I use color as my primary artistic element. I’ve studied the meanings and associations of colors and their subtle shades and tones and use this knowledge to convey the mood of each painting."

Melissa's work can be seen in galleries in Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Chicago, among other cities. If, like me, you find Melissa's work enchanting and would like to get a print for yourself, you can pick one up at 2Modern, Indie Fixx, or Little Paper Airplanes.