Bahamian artist to present life-like portrait to Pope Francis

The multi-talented cartoonist for a Bahamas' leading newspaper, The Tribune, also dubbed, "The Celebrity Artist" after drawing countless high profile people from around the world will be presenting his latest masterpiece to none other than Pope Francis at Vatican City in Rome, Italy on Wednesday, March 26th. The life-like painting by Rolle is framed in chestnut wood, and The Bahamas Weekly has been in touch with Rolle's publicist Azaleta Ishmael-Newry who has said they arrived safely to Italy and will be sightseeing today, and are excited to be meeting with the 266th and current Pope of the Catholic Church.

Their trip was supported by many including internationally acclaimed musician and composer Mike Oldfield.

Rolle has been a professional artist since 2001, but said he's been freelancing since grade school. "My first paid portrait was actually a mischievous sketch of my math teacher that I doodled in the same class," he said. When the teacher discovered the sketch by mistake, instead of scolding him as expected, he laughed and bought it from him for $10; telling him that if this is what he wanted to do for a living he should keep it up.  Since those humble beginnings Jamaal has painted and presented to Oprah, HRH Prince Harry, the children of Michael Jackson,  and many others.

Jamaal made the trip with his publicist  Azaleta Ishmael-Newry (Canadian-Bahamian) based in Nassau, Bahamas and took this fabulous photo of the artist with the portrait to be presented.

More information on The Celebrity Artist can be found on his website, www.thecelebrityartist.com.

More to come!

(Photo of artist copyright: Azaleta Ismael-Newry)