Dutch artists Marissa Oosterlee is recognized for her hyperrealistic figurative pieces that captivate the viewer with not only their technical detail but also the narratives that she brings to life.
Marissa started as an aspiring semi-professional cyclist, but a heavy accident at age 20 ended her career early. One year after recovering from the accident and picking up brushes and pencils again, she became a professional artist.
Her works always contain a deeper personal or social message, as well as her great love for nature. Marissa now enjoys worldwide attention with her hyperrealistic paintings. She has undisputedly established her name with her photorealistic paintings. She creates her own reality in her artwork, hyperrealistically and convincingly conveyed on canvas. In addition to various painting techniques, she also uses airbrush and her work often consists of acrylic and oil paint.
Marissa teaches her students that as an artist, self-confidence is an essential requirement. Art is subjective, so not everyone will like what you create. We need to create what our heart desires and steer away from hypes, trends, and opinions of others.
The art series Washing Away My Sorrows, with different numerals and subtitles—are about “the then, now and later,” she explains. “Life without water is not possible. Water symbolizes purity, clarity, tranquility. It reminds us that we need to clear our thoughts every now and then and that we must strive for a state of purity.”
Marissa means From the Sea – Mermaid. It’s the perfect fit as her love for the ocean and nature is as big as her passion for art. She is actively involved in cleaning up nature, creating awareness of the importance of clean oceans, and raising funds with annual auctions for a good cause to help animals in need. She now resides in Spain together with her partner and two dogs, after living in Belgium and The Netherlands for many years. Together they run the art business and travel the world.