Dustin J. Craig is the author of Starship Dominatrix, a bold LGBTQ+ sci-fi epic blending cosmic spectacle, satire, and unapologetic queerness. He holds an A.A. in Graphic Design and B.F.A. in Comic & Sequential Art, and is known for his work on Dale Lazarov’s Tapstuds as well as his provocative originals Father and Nine Inch Ninjesus. A lifelong gamer and sci-fi obsessive, Dustin draws inspiration from pop culture and the stranger corners of the imagination. He lives in Taylorsville, Utah with his husband, Glen Bogue, and rules the digital pleasure city of Blue Wave City in Second Life.
BEAU Gallery Speech
Art taught me I wasn’t a sinner, but human.
“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.”
~ Dustin J. Craig
Resume
Dustin Craig
boffcomics@gmail.com
Objective
Tell powerful stories through novels 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 and a 24 page comic. Researched proper venue for distribution. Created branding, website, and promotion on social media. Wrote and published three novels about 100,000 words each.
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, writing, Sci-Fi, Second Lifenity events.