Dustin J. Craig
My highly provocative and taboo art pushes social norms. The unattainable morals of authority and the masses expect homosexuality to be shamed and despised. Life isn’t all lala, and rainbows and rice cakes and farts. Life and sex are dirty, messy fun, and passionate. The erotica genre shouldn’t be assumed to be entirely vile. Pornographic stories are suitable for those who are responsible enough enjoy them. I’m motivated to enlarge the discussion of the acceptance of your sexual desires, and to challenge other peoples’ ideologies.
Dustin J. Craig
Dustin was born in June 1982. Art has been his escape from the horrors of reality. In 2001, Dustin found his loving partner, Glen. Dustin has earned an A.A. in Graphic Design and a B.F.A. in Comic and Sequential Images.
BEAU Gallery Speech
“I’ve always enjoyed drawing, and I’ve always been attracted to men, but I grew up in an abusive household. For the first 19 years of my life, I was taught to be ashamed of myself. I was taught that sex is evil, it’s a sin, that it is something to be ashamed of, but I was never taught what sex is. I was taught that homosexuality is evil, that it’s a sin, that it’s unnatural, but I was never taught what homosexuality is.
Imagine what that does to an adolescent whose body is boiling with all these emotions and all these hormones that he has no idea what to do with. Imagine what that does to a teenager trying to figure out their identity in life. Basically, I was taught to be so ashamed of my own body that I wanted to kill myself.
When I was 19, I went to a psychology class. It was there I was taught what sex was, 19 years old, and I was finally taught what sex is. I was taught that sex is good, that it is natural, that it is normal, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I was taught what homosexuality is, that it is good, that it is natural, that it is normal, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
At that moment, a billion billion lightning strikes cascaded through my neurons and synapses to give me the epiphany that I’m gay. Suddenly all these conflicting emotions of self-hate, self-doubt, self-neglect, self-abuse, and low self-esteem versus trying to fit in the lines that society has drawn for me all went away. Suddenly, I understood who I was, and I didn’t feel ashamed anymore.
That night, I went home, and I drew a homoerotic picture. It felt good, it felt natural, it felt normal. It didn’t feel like I was possessed by a demon, nor did it feel like I was condemned by an angel. It made me feel human. Soon after, I met my Glen online, and we’ve been together ever since.
Ten years later, I came to Broadview Entertainment Arts University with a remnant of feeling ashamed of my art. I came to this school with the absolute belief that nobody wanted to see my art. To quote Rando, “Horseshit.”
It took me the next three and a half years to have it pounded into my thick skull that people do want to see my art, that people want my art to be seen. The irony isn’t lost on me that my art is displayed behind this wall, which stands as a testament to the line that society has drawn for me.
The instructors at this school want to see their students succeed. They want their students to show their art, their music, their movies, their video games, their stories, and their designs and not have to feel ashamed.
Don’t be ashamed. Don’t be ashamed of who you are. Don’t be ashamed of speaking out. Don’t be ashamed of your sexuality. Don’t be ashamed of your talents. Don’t be ashamed of your art, or your music, or your movies, or your video games, or your stories or your designs. Don’t be ashamed of what you create. Don’t be ashamed of your creativity.”
Resume
Dustin Craig
dustin.craig@boffcomics.com
Objective
Tell powerful stories through scripts and illustration. Complete projects from creative concept to final product. Skilled with mixed digital media and traditional art. Bring creative solutions to unique tasks.
Education
Broadview Entertainment Arts University – Salt Lake City, Utah 2011-2015
B.F.A. in Comic and Sequential Imaging Graphic Novel and Scripting, Screenwriting, Creature, Character, Fantasy and Vehicle Drawing. Dean’s list from Summer 2013 to Winter 2014
Provo College – Provo Utah 2000 – 2002
A.A. in Graphic Design Digital Tools, Color Theory, Web Appearance, Typography, Package Design, and Illustration
Experience
BOFF! Comics 2013 – Present
Layouts, concept work, and cover pages. Wrote graphic novel scripts, penciled, digitally inked, lettered in Manga Studio, colored and published two 12 page comic books. Researched proper venue for distribution. Created branding, website, and promotion on social media
Dale Lazarov 2014 – 2018
Contracted for three 24 page comic books. Penciled traditionally, digitally inked and colored in Photoshop. Did illustration, concept work, and layouts. Developed working relationship and kept an open line of communication with author. Submitted proofs before finalizing pages.
SendOutCards 2004 – 2009
Freelance graphic artist to design greeting card covers using a mix of traditional and digital media. Delivered print ready files that met specifications.
Volunteer
Utah Pride Center 2008
Took phone calls and managed library books. Socialized with LGBT community and actively participated in community events.
Interests
Comic books, Script Writing, Adult Entertainment, Sci-Fi, Second Life
Fan Art
