About
My name is Ben Burgess Rollo
This is a portfolio of work in response to the human condition through the use of colour, distortion, expression and mark making. I use Blender software (3-D animation/2-D animation/sound design & editing), oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolour paints, inks, pastels and pencil. I love cinema and studying film has influenced my animation in terms of themes, cinematography, camera angles and narrative structure. Particular film makers and animators I admire include Terry Brain, Rich Webber, Wes Anderson, Robert Strange, Anna Ginsburg and Sacha Beeley.
Animation
These are a growing series of animations using Blender software and which explore themes of interest such as psychological thrillers, existential crisis and dark humour. A love of film and Film Studies have helped inspire and shape the narratives and aesthetic.
'Ticket Please'Three-minute animation created using Blender. This was completed on a ten-day group residential through 3Dam that took place in Bath University, during the summer of 2023. I developed skills in animation, editing, sound engineering, producing and teamwork.
Bored Billboard A short animation, created on Blender, in homage to ‘Blade Runner’ with its visual style and aesthetic. This piece was an experiment in how I can mix 2D and 3D animation techniques together in one film
'Underwater' a short film created using Blender. Making this film helped me to understand the Geometry Node section of the software, this being a deeply confusing aspect to grasp.
Psychological thriller episode 1 + 2POV thriller animations made on Blender. My first attempts on using different shots types to make a film rather than using stand alone scenes. This uses my experiences with storyboards and knowledge of how to use camera angles effectively to help me. This stemming from me studying A-level film.
All Videos
All Videos
Losing Balance
Ticket Please — final_27thAug2023
Horror animation
Horror animation 2
''Coagulate' A short film created on a 7 day BFI Residential in Feb 2024 combining live action and 2-D & 3-D animation using Blender and photoshop.
Drawing and Painting
A series of drawings and paintings produced over the last two years inspired by German Expressionism, Edvard Munch, Jenny Saville and Egon Schiele
Chiaroscuro StudesA3 Ink Studies
Use of high-key lighting, inspired by film noir and the chiaroscuro paintings of the renaissance period.
In my free time, I have gone to private life drawing classes to help develop my understanding of the human figure and visual language elements such as shape, form and tone.
Personal investigation unit
Practical studies exploring the human figure and how it can be distorted for expressive purposes.
A3, water colour, Aux trois crayon
I was selected to take part in a workshop led by Adabanje Alade (a professional artist). The portrait on the left being my first oil painting, leading to further exploration of the medium. I took inspiration from artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Alade himself.
Studies using acrylic paint and/or Posca Pens on plastic acetate and canvas. The piece on the left, exploring layering with visual themes of psychodelia, colour and abstract mark-making.
The piece on the right, exploring art in relation to street fashion and using bright, vivid colours to glamourize it.
I am interested in themes of glamourization in film and art. These three paintings are about developing how I can use colour and tone to convey over romanticized imagery or display less traditional portraits in a very blunt and vulnerable way.
Pencil and Ink studies, using mobile phone apps to create reflective imagery for me to use as references.
Vulnerability Studies
Pencil sketches exploring body language and how it can convey emotional distress and discomfort. This acts as an antithesis to commercial glamourization of the figure.
These are proportional studies of ballerinas, in preparation for my final piece of my project. Using graphite pencils, pencil colours, oil pastels and chalk pastels. This was connected to a study of Edgar Degas.
Final Piece for the Personal Investigation Unit. Created in oil paint. Inspired by German Expressionism with their use of colour, distorted space and of paint. Using my ballerina friend who is currently studying in St Petersburg. Scale A1
Riccardo
Painting study for Controlled Assignment: Theme: Vivid. Oil Paint on Board. Inspiration of Poppy Ellis, Illustrator Software, vectors/geometric shapes and computer technology.
3-D modelling
Character design for animations future/past
The top figure is a self portrait to be used as part of a project I have taken part in through the BFI and which incorporates live action, animation and special effects. I have recently taken part in a 7 day residential in order to complete this.
Residential Evidence
