Ron Marlett enlisted in the United States Coast Guard shortly after graduating from high school. During his enlistment he was employed as an artist/illustrator for the Pacific Shield, an official Coast Guard publication.

It was during his assignment in Hawaii that Ron had his first art shows and also developed a wacky cartoon called Ensign Baffestir for the crew and officers alike.

Upon returning to the United States, Ron enrolled at Los Angeles Pierce College, studying art, and graduated from there in 1982. In 1984, he received a bachelors degree in fine art from California State University, Northridge. While at CSU he entered a number of school sponsored art exhibitions and participated in shows presented by the city of Thousand Oaks.

For several years Ron traveled and exhibited for a major nation-wide pubshing house and gallery chain. With the knowledge and experience gained from working with this company he set up his own company with his brother, Richard, in 1990, to promote his new style of work.