Arts & Culture
The Celebrity Artist meets Michael Jackson's children in The Bahamas
By Robbin Whachell, The Bahamas Weekly News Team
Oct 19, 2012 - 6:03:09 AM

Michael Jackson drawing by Jamaal Rolle / The Celebrity Artist

Nassau, Bahamas - "Michael Jackson was always an inspiration to me," said Bahamas' Celebrity Artist, Jamaal Rolle, who has been featured on ABC and NBC news for his many celebrity drawings. Many drawings take place quite by chance as celebs who visit the Bahamas pass by his studio on Paradise Island.  Rolle shares with us one of his most exciting encounters and drawings.

"One night I saw an entourage of about eight securities guarding some children. The children appeared to be familiar to me as I had seen their faces before. I recognized the children to be Michael Jackson’s as well as the gentleman who was with them to be Tito Jackson, son out of a former music group called 3T," said Rolle who goes on to explain that during their walk through Marina Village, one of the security guards saw the portrait of Michael Jackson that he had on display and was highly impressed.

"When I recognize this, I immediately approached the guard that appeared to be in charge and requested if it was possible for me to donate the portrait to the kids because of how much their father had been an inspiration to me. The guard was so impress with my portrait; that he granted me access to the children – Prince, Paris and Blanket," and Rolle was able to show them their father’s portrait he had drawn.

Paris in particular was very impressed as Rolle showed them the vast portfolio of celebrity drawings and that The Celebrity Artist had met numerous of her favorite celebrities that she had always wanted to meet. She said “I have to get one of these for myself”, especially when she saw the portrait Rolle had presented to Sean Combs-Music mogul-A.K.A- P. Diddy with her father and hip hop legend, Notorious B.I.G .

Paris Jackson drawing by Jamaal Rolle / The Celebrity Artist

Paris that she'd never seen such an intrinsic portrait of her dad and said, "I really have to get one”. Her cousin who is TJ, Tito Jackson’s son from the popular music group from the 90’s 3T, was there as their legal guardian, and expressed to her that it wasn’t a good time because they were leaving the next morning, but she pleaded with him.

The Celebrity Artist hearing this, quickly said he would do his best to accommodate them. They discussed the steps to get the process started and Rolle took a few photos of Paris to use as reference material.

"The security allowed Paris and I time to discuss how she wanted the portrait. We took a few shots in different poses until we found a picture that we both thought would work best," said Rolle. "Paris was very excited, mannerly, down to earth, with a bubbly personality."

TJ also wanted a portrait for himself, so he came to have his picture taken and commissioned the portraits of Paris and himself. "He was amazed that I remembered him from the group 3T, smiled and was excited that someone in The Bahamas actually knew who he was."

TJ Jackson drawing by Jamaal Rolle / The Celebrity Artist

Rolle went to work immediately and later that night the portraits were completed and and he phoned their representative. "We met in the hotel lobby and the representative who came to complete payment and collect the portraits was so impressed at how much the portraits look like Paris and TJ," said Rolle. It was approximately 2am. "He told me he couldn't wait to show the drawing to Catherine Jackson, Michael’s Jackson mom, and he asked if I knew that Michael Jackson was an artist too, to which I replied 'yes'."

The next day The Celebrity Artist had visits from TMZ reporters wanting to interview him and asked Rolle if he would be interested in selling the pictures he took of Michael’s Jackson's children. "I replied no, expressing that it would be of poor business practice and against my personal ethics to do so."

The Celebrity artist said that The Jackson Family is a great addition to his ever growing list of celebrity clients and he felt honoured to have met them.  Recently, Jamaal Rolle had his photo with Prince Harry seen in People Magazine.

Contact the artist here on his Facebook Page

With countless commissions among private, corporate, and government officials, The Celebrity Artist have captured the likenesses of families, US Presidents, senators, congressmen, royalty, Nobel Prize laureates, CEO’s, major athletes, Hollywood A Listers and socialites.

The Celebrity Artist, work closely with the client to understand their expectations and focus on personalized attention and service. Assisting clients in choosing the artist style, working procedure, and price range that are most appropriate for them. The associate leads the client through the process, step by step, maintaining valuable communication as the portrait takes shape.


RELATED: Bahamian Jamaal Rolle becoming known as "The Celebrity Artist"

Jamaaal Rolle / The Celebrity Artist (center) with Prince, Blanket and Paris in The Bahamas

The Celebrity Artist, Jamaal Rolle with Sean Combs

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