Introducing Roberto Parrilla

Roberto Parrilla, the artist and my dear friend, surprised me with a request. He asked that I write a few descriptive words about him and his work.

As I was about to do this, I was gently tapped on the shoulder of my consciousness by a certain lovely scene that I quickly recognized to be Parrilla's painting, "Palomas." (#95).

The painting "Palomas" is small in size, much like a gem. It is set in the Plaza de Armas, a small park cradled in the heart of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and surrounded on all sides by historical Spanish architecture. In the plaza is a flock of foraging pigeons, all scattered, each one busy seeking crumbs and scraps of food. In the background is a child crouched over, attentive to the birds. Behind her is a wheeled vendor's cart.

Not an unusual sight this, it is very typical of the island. Through the eyes of Parrilla, the artist and his brush, we now feel the unforgiving tropical sun that dazzles the eyes with its bright reflection and redefines the park, its pigeons and the child into a mosaic of sunlight and shadows, so stark you are almost forced to protect yourself from the glare. At that magical moment you are transported. You are no longer looking at Parrilla's painting, you are now in the plaza.

"Palomas" is a small sized painting, yet enormous in its ability to transform us and transfix in our memory a beautiful moment in time caught by Parrilla for all eternity.

This is just one of Parrilla's art works. Roberto has painted many others. By way of further introduction, if there is anything else that you would like to know about this gifted artist, seek out his work and the joy of his expression.

-George Velkas.