CAMP PENDLETON — Local artist Todd Krasovetz was commissioned by the Marine Military Academy to create a painting for the academy’s 50th anniversary next year.

Krasovetz’s work will show how cadet life at the academy has evolved from the 1960s to today. At the center of the painting is the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima, which has special significance to the academy in Harlingen, Texas.

On the campus stands the original cast used to make the Iwo Jima memorial, also known as the Marine Corps War Memorial, which is located near the Arlington cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. One of the Marines who raised the original flag at Iwo Jima is buried at the academy near where the cast stands.

The academy selected Krasovetz because of the way he captures the essence military life in his paintings, said Jorge Ramirez, who is donating the painting to his alma mater.

Krasovetz has been commissioned by nearly every branch of the military to produce works at about a dozen military installations across the country over the past 14 years. He lives in Shelter island and has a studio in Point Loma, where he paints both military and non-military work.

Krasovetz, is probably known in military circles for his painting, “Wings of Hope,” which was installed in the entrance to old Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in 2001. The painting shows a Navy corpsman dragging a wounded Marine to safety on a sandy shore. In the reflection of the water, the corpsman has wings. The work is being reframed for installation in the new hospital along with Krasovetz’s “New American Pride.”

The pivotal work was the first in a series of military paintings on display at the San Diego Veteran’s Museum in Balboa Park.

Two years ago “Wings of Hope” caught the attention of set designers for the ABC Lifetime TV series “Army Wives.” Since then several of his pieces have appeared on the set, starting with episode 7 of the sixth season of Lifetime’s series, which follows the lives of several Army wives and their families on a military base.

Krasovetz started doing military paintings as a way to honor service members. His father fought in Vietnam and his brother, Scott Krasovetz, a Navy corpsman, was deployed multiple times to Iraq with the 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton.

Krasovetz said his paintings have a spiritual side and he is currently working on the imagery in his piece for the academy.

“The final piece will have more symbolic imagery,” Krasovetz said.

The painting, which is oil on canvas, will be approximately 3 feet by 2 feet.

The work is expected to be unveilled for the academy’s 50th anniversary in April at the alumni banquet.