Rolf, a practicing architect for over thirty-five years in the states of Hawaii and Washington, now devotes his full time attention to oil painting. While living and working in Hawaii for ten years he taught at the University of Hawaii as an associate professor; Manoa campus department of architecture. He also worked as an architect for local firms with projects on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Tahiti.

Rolf started plein air oil painting in the year 2000 alternating his time between the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. As a painter Rolf finds the intensity of light and colors of Hawaii, in contrast with the muted colors of the Pacific Northwest, to be challenging.

Rolf is a member of the Plein Air Painters of Hawaii (PAPOA). In 2007 Rolf entered the PAPOH second annual juried member art show held at the Maui Hands Paia gallery and was awarded third place for his painting Waimea Plantation Cottages No.1