Jamaal Rolle of Nassau Bahamas was born to Harry Rolle, an artist and bronze sculptor, and to Judy
Rolle, a conch shell artist, and says his family
of 12 siblings all have artistic abilities. "I draw because there
is hardly anything in life that is better to do," said Rolle. "My
motivation is fueled by life itself. To awake and smell the freshness
of the air each morning and see the sun rise to another glorious day is my inspiration."

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...