About Dustin
— The Crayon King
I’m Dustin, an artist, designer, and online drawing teacher happily known as The Crayon King. I’ve taught thousands of live drawing classes to kids, with one simple goal: help them enjoy making art and feel proud of what they create.
Where It All Began
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I recently found this drawing of Mickey and Donald that I made in May 1987, tucked away with my childhood things. Back then, drawing was simply fun—it was something I could make, finish, and feel proud of. Later, formal art classes sometimes made drawing feel more about getting things “right” than enjoying the process. That experience stayed with me. Today, I want kids to have the kind of drawing experience I loved in the beginning: playful, encouraging, and something they’re proud to call their own.
The Long Way Around
Before art became my full-time path, I worked all kinds of jobs—driving trucks, delivering pizzas, washing dishes, and building homes. But I never stopped drawing, and I never stopped wanting to make things. Eventually, I went back to school and committed to becoming the artist and designer I had always wanted to be.
Design School & Professional Training
I eventually returned to school, graduating magna cum laude in Web Design before earning a degree in Digital Design from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. My training included intensive drawing, design, and visual communication—and gave me the technical foundation I now bring into every class I teach.
What I Bring to Every Class
I’m a professional artist and designer, a UC DAAP graduate, and a 5-star Outschool teacher who has taught more than 3,000 live classes.
But credentials only matter if they help kids. My goal is to make drawing feel welcoming, playful, and worth coming back to—without turning art into a test of perfection.
Ready to Draw?
See my current live drawing classes and find the one that fits your artist best.