Onelio Marrero

Feast for the Eyes, Oil Painting

2023

Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero presents an impressionist piece exploring ponds, koi, and goldfish—part of his ongoing series focusing on freshwater fauna. "Koi and Goldfish are considered lucky because, despite their bright colors attracting predators, they have useful survival instincts," shares Onelio. These fish take advantage of reflections of the sky and trees on the water's surface to hide from predators. Onelio capitalizes on the effects of the clear sky and silhouetted trees reflected on the pond to partially mask the exotic fish.

About the Artist
Artist Onelio Marrero paints impressionist city scenes of everyday life. He captures the romanticism of New York City, from the picturesque fountains in Central Park to a glistening city street on a rainy afternoon. He creates a sense of nostalgia and intimacy with his work, offering the feeling that you have visited this particular scene before. “Each play of light, each texture, and each movement of a figure can have a captivating effect on me,” says Onelio. He studied at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art where he mastered discerning color and values, giving his work a more spontaneous appearance. Onelio’s work is an appreciation for beauty in all of its greatest forms; nature, art, and people.

Words that describe this painting: koi, goldfish, water, pond, lake, swim, reflection, liquid, rocks, pebbles, animal, oilpaint, impressionism, impressionism, animals, oil painting, green

Hidden Gems...

Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero depicts a mother and her child dropping coins into a fountain for good luck. The quiet moment is painted in brilliant morning light with dappled shadows in the foreground. Behind them lies a verdant backdrop of foliage around a stone church and a view of the distant city beyond. Onelio's rich textures and detailed brushwork greatly enhances the piece. "The separating line between the church and the fountain reminds us of the demarcation between faith and luck," says Onelio.

About the Artist
Onelio Marrero paints city scenes of everyday life. In an impressionistic style he captures the romanticism of New York City, the picturesque fountains in Central Park and the wet city streets after a rainy afternoon. His use of warm tones creates a sense of nostalgia and the feeling that you have visited or seen this particular scene before. Onelio will often paint from direct observation, or he will work from a combination of photographs and combine numerous sources into one piece. In this way his work combines reality with fantasy, creating a new story with each painting. His work captures an appreciation for beauty in all of its greatest forms; nature, art, and people.

Words that describe this painting: fountain, church, plaza, spring, stonework, architecture...