Timothy Rollin is becoming a much sought after street artist. His work has a looseness of line yet one populated with a mass of characters. What started out as simple demons and trolls (the latter his former tag, taken from his initial and the first four letters of his name) now people a menagerie.
Daydream kids, dinosaurs and yaks with cheesy grins are all part of his populace. Which is where part of Rollin’s appeal lies: his style is carefree, just like his characters… and his attitude toward life.
Known for his stickers and large scale aerosol work, Rollin has also begun amassing a range of illustrations which he hopes to develop into prints. And with a second solo exhibition fast approaching, this is one street artist worth collecting while his work is affordable. Because just like local street artists Creepy and Yok, Rollin has what it takes to make the lowbrow even cooler.
What can you tell us about your style and technique?
Style is in a constant state of flux, but I like to remain consistent. I work primarily with aerosol outdoors and pencil and ink for my concepts and studio work. My visual style early on was trying for iconic, like remember the name, recognise the style when you see it. Later I tried to depict the street lifestyle, what I and others around me were going through and ills of society. To fight back in some ways, counter campaigns. Mashed up with some graffiti in-jokes and old fashion self-jocking.
These days I continue to build on my style and visual language trying to show variety while also continuing with some running themes.
After all the hard boiled street stuff, I now like (to) balance it with a lighter style, a counter body of work which is almost like modern nursery rhymes. I haven’t tried putting it into words yet, but it is a fun style. A lot to me (is) about experimentation. The relationship between scale and proportion, utility and interaction of characters. The relationship with the city street, both by depiction of it within my work or purely by existing within it. The trolls have become one with the city and as a result the City features are part of their bodies. Adaptation. Much like how the human adapts to utilise his urban environment with skateboarding, graffiti and other street culture.
On the simplest level. I enjoy what I am painting. Leave the thinking to the thinkers.
When you first started out it was mainly just demons and trolls – why did you start drawing these characters?
I think it probably had something to do with my complete inability to deal with reality. So bring your delusions to the real world. Make them real. There was a time when people believed in things. People struggle with identity now days. Bring something back to the cold lonely streets. Modern folklore. Our stories.
How has a space like Last Chance Studios assisted your work?
It has been amazing being surrounded by other passionate creators. There is so much to learn from each of them. And it has been easier to put on our own shows and events everyone helping each other to get the job done.
What project(s) are you currently working on?
I am always working on developing my world further, with new characters to co exist with established ones. For different walks of life, not just street culture. I have just finished one of my biggest solo street works. A whole alley wall in North Perth. In the lanes behind Juice box which is across from the Rosemount. I am also planning a second solo show which will be mid year in Fremantle.
