The Tribune

JAMAAL Rolle, The Tribune’s cartoonist, has received a ringing endorsement of his portrait work from a former US presidential candidate. Mr Rolle, also known as the Celebrity Artist, presented two customised portraits to John McCain, the Arizona Senator, and his wife Cindy at the One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island.

“It is always a unique experience to meet new individuals who appreciate my work,” Mr Rolle said. “Seeing and hearing Senator John McCain and Mrs McCain’s expression and simultaneously say, ‘Wow, Oh my God, that’s wonderful’ and with her saying separately in amazement ‘this is the best portrait I have ever seen done with him’ is the greatest reward I can obtain from the experience. That illustrates I have done my job well based on the sound of their appreciation.”

The portraits were commissioned as a gift by Roni Duncombe, the President/CEO of Distinguish Enterprises, as a gesture of goodwill on Memorial Day. Senator McCain was recorded as saying: “Your portrait will be the first thing you see when you come to my office in Washington, DC, next month.”

Asked for his thoughts when he heard this Mr Rolle said: “Hearing these words only keeps me humble and appreciative of the talent God has blessed me with, which only inspires me to continue to look forward to actualise my ability to the world; for everyone to enjoy my interpretation of art and how I see the world.”