DGSmitty

It all seemed to have started as far back as elementary school, winning my first drawing contest. Spent several hours and years from there enjoying the craft. Made the decision in my high school years that I would attend art school. However, a recruiter convinced me he had a better plan. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of yellow footprints aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island

, South Carolina. I don’t think this was a good idea... Man, I should be in class right now learning to draw... Oh yeah, that’s right, my misguided youth lead me here. That’s how that dude (recruiter) got me here. The things that went through my head at the time, but looking back, the best decision I ever made. I would bet, that many who were on the same footprints can relate. Luckily the Marine Corps had a military occupational specialty in the field of graphic design. I graduated boot camp and the required Marine Combat Training school before being sent to Aroura, Colorado to attend the Graphic Design School. The three-month course covered the fundamentals and principles of graphics design. We learned to use several mediums such as pencils, charcoal, and paints to draw and illustrate. Yes, I was back in the world I was meant to be in! During the span of my military career I had several opportunities as a graphics designer to produce a multitude of products and to master the craft. I was able to complete the Art Instruction School and obtain the title of Craftsman in the field of Graphic Arts through an Apprenticeship from the Department of Labor. Midway through my career, I obtained another military occupational specialty, as a Combat Videographer and attended the Video Production and Documentation School. We learned how to shoot controlled and uncontrolled actions with field and studio cameras, take the footage and edit it to produce a documentation. This was my first experience with art in motion. Within my twenty years of service, I continued to provide graphics design, video production and leadership up to the last days of service in 2012. If you are interested in learning more about my military career, please check out my full military biography on LinkedIn. After retiring from the military, I began focusing my efforts as a graphics freelancer and was also hired as a Graphic Designer with General Dynamics. Spent two years supporting aviation instructors with graphics for courseware for the Marine Corps’ version of the Navy’s “Top Gun” in “sweating balls hot,” Yuma, Arizona. Today I manage a graphics and printshop in sunny southern California on a Marine Corps Base. We provide support to hundreds of units to include schools. We provide high volume printing, finishing, and graphic design for products such as logos, programs, reports, posters, flyers, trifolds, books, boards, and animations. I am fortunate to have the opportunity in helping visually communicate an idea and take things to the next level!