BIOGRAPHY Click HERE to download a PDF of Richard Dobbs' professional resume. Richard D. Dobbs, Jr. was born in Atlanta GA. April 24th, 1969 Richard grew up in Forest Park, GA where he became a self-taught artist, never taking any formal art training until college. At the age of 19, Richard decided to pursue a career in music as a percussionist with the United States Marine Corps Band. After enlisting in 1988, Richard married the love of his life, a young ballet dancer from Jonesboro, GA, Carrie Johnson, where they set off to California for Richard to play drums and tour with the band. Richard began his career in Art & Graphics in 1991 in the USMC after he participated in Desert Storm in Kuwait with the 1st Marine Division Band as a M-60 Gunner. The Band was transformed into a security platoon for the General of the 1st Marine Division during the war. Upon returning from Desert Storm, Richard decided to change jobs from percussionist to graphic artist at Camp Pendleton, CA. After showing his personal portfolio to the Camp Pendleton Art Department TAVSC, they accepted Richard as an "on-the-job trainee" without having any formal training in art. After leaving the Marines in 1992, Richard continued to pursue a career in the arts, relocating from Oceanside, CA to Clayton NC. Richard received an associates degree at Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC in Commercial art and Advertising Design where he was taught by reknowned artist, mentor and professor, the late Frank Creech. Richard has worked professionally in several areas of the graphics arts fields. Screen printing as an Illistrator for 4 years; Yellow Pages as a graphic composer for 3 years; Ad Agency as an Art Director for 4 years and exhibit trade show display graphic artist/imaging specialist for 5 years. Currently, Richard is a freelance artist where he produces art for several local Raleigh, NC companies including the North Carolina Community Health Centers Association. Richard especially enjoys fine art projects... pen & ink renderings, pastel portraits, oil paintings & acrylic murals are his speciality. Richard considers himself mostly a realist, but every now and then he will branch off into other art genres. Illustrating books has now become his new passion. Since 2002, Richard has taught private art classes to children in where he and his students explore all types of art. From drawing to painting, from paper mache to ceramics, from junk art sculptures to painting furniture.