 ", which inspired his first attempt at paleoart (a "Brontosaurus") at age four or five.Originally from Kansas, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star, and later decided that it would be more lucrative and consistent with his talents to become an illustrator.He attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he met "Crash" McCreery, who Marshall cites as a chief influence along with music stars such as Elvis Presley, special effects artists such as Ray Harryhausen, movie producers and directors including George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, and classic paleoartists such as Charles R. Knight.