Brian C. Roll was born and raised in New Jersey.  He holds a Bachelors of Fine Art from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, with a concentration in Computer Animation. 

An interest in art developed as soon as he figured out that crayons served a better purpose being put to paper than put in his mouth.  Inspired by cartoons and movies early on, he was never without his trusty drawing pad and had his first installation art exhibit when he placed his Star Wars action figures in the family Nativity display. 

Mr. Roll continued to draw all through his adolescence and began to use writing along with art as an emotional outlet.  By the time he graduated from high school, he was a published poet.  His dream of starting his own comic book company was also firmly in place by this point.  While in college, he began to develop his artistic style with Prismacolor markers.  It quickly became apparent that there had to be a better way to create his art.  Enter the digital medium.  Combined with the beginning stages of the style you see today and the introduction to digital paint, he inadvertently started Odyssey Art in the summer of 2001 when he did portraits for a few former college baseball teammates.  Word spread amongst the team and soon every player wanted one, leading to Mr. Roll’s art being featured on that year’s Media Guide. 

Roll speaks of his creativity as his life force.  Whether it be through art, writing fiction, poetry or just product design at his current position at NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association), he is at his happiest when he is creating.  Although his hand can seldom keep up with his mind, due to his bouts with A.A.D.D. (Artistic Attention Deficit Disorder), leaving a swath of unfinished works as he moves on to his next inspiration, he is never the less always capable of meeting the deadline. 

His work has been featured in New York Yankees Magazine, TOPPS trading cards, Horrorhound Magazine, ND Comics Magazine and numerous NECA products and packaging.  He was also the grand prize winner in a contest sponsored by Dreamworks, Warner Bros. and Deviant Art, in which he designed a one-sheet poster for the movie Sweeney Todd.  He has also used his work in the realm of charity, by donating works to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Mr. Roll is currently working on a full color graphic novel based on a script that he co-wrote. 

The exhibit at Gallery Provocateur marks his first gallery showing.  And he is proud to announce the launching of a new website in conjunction with the show.  Odyssey Angels will be a showcase of Mr. Roll’s work featuring the most beautiful women in the world.  For more information, please visit www.odysseyangels.net.  Or his full portfolio can be viewed at www.odysseyart.net.