UO Interviews: Dom & Ink Author of Queer Power: Icons, Activists and Game Changers from Across the Rainbow
Illustrator and author, Dominic Evans showcases the LGBTQIA+ community from around the world in his book Queer Power: Icons, Activists and Game Changers from Across the Rainbow. The book takes you on a journey, celebrates legends and explores the community through illustration. We talk to Dom about his inspiration, drawing his favourite celebrities and most importantly his go-to lip sync song. Stay tuned for his booking dropping on UO soon.
Where did the inspiration for your book come from?
I think a lot of my inspiration came from the amazing figures in the book! Watching them be important activists, game changers and icons, inspired me to do more for the LGBTQIA+ community. I always try and tie queerness into my work, so for me, getting the opportunity to do a queer AF book for the community and about the community was huge! I really wanted to platform these voices in a way that engaged with readers and made the reader want to follow and support the icons in the book and their work.
What does ‘queer power’ mean to you?
'Queer Power' can be so many things! For me, it makes me think of standing proud in your gorgey rainbowness and accepting yourself and loving yourself for who you are. I also think on a personal note, it can be applied to those moments where you sit there in your authentic truth, thinking about what you've been through or had to navigate to get to where you are with your queerness and you say to yourself, 'F★★k yeah, Queer Power!'.
You’ve illustrated for @dragraceukbbc @thepinkpalace and @littlemixthesearch, when did your journey into illustration begin?
Very early! I taught myself to draw at a very young age from a book about drawing for comics. So, I've always loved to draw and create characters and stories and do typography. Illustration wise, I created 'DOM&INK' in 2013 and did the odd job here and there and then my work finally took off more recently from 2019 when I went full time freelance. So, it's been a journey hun!
Who is your favourite person you’ve drawn?
You can't make me choose!!! There's too many! Can I say everyone in 'Queer Power'?! I do have a special place for anything drag related, as I love costume design so getting to draw amazing drag queens, kings and thems is always a treat for me.
What was the best reaction to one of your illustrations?
I think it was with my book, 'Free To Be Me' which was an LGBTQIA+ journal for ages 12+. We had anonymous sensitivity readers go through it and one of them said seeing a queer character in the book in a wheelchair made them feel 'seen' and for me, that was a big moment of why I draw and create what I do. I want to draw the representation so many queer people never got and help people be platformed and feel 'seen'. I even had a little cry when I read that, and hun, I don't cry much!
Who would be your dream dinner guests?
Britney. Cher. Jane McDonald and the entire cast of every Real Housewives franchise ever? Can we make it a dinner/house party? Please?
Who is on your feel-good playlist right now?
At the moment, I love a good pop playlist and love me some Gaga and my babes Little Mix, but I also love discovering new queer artists and I have a huge love for Desta French, Laville and Jason Kwan. They serve absolute bops!
Go-to lip sync song… Christina Aguilera 'Dirrty'. After that Drag Race All Stars lip sync, it's ALL I SING ALL DAY.
Who would you be on Snatch Game?
I've had this chat so many times! Ok, I think I could do a good Tanya Turner from Footballers Wives. Bubblies In The Fridge!?
3 creatives you’d like to spotlight?
Adryan Tunde Abii-Smith @chidiabiistudio - their work is absolutely glorious and their figures are just chef's kiss. I cannot wait to see them absolutely take over and smash it!
Jason Kwan @jasonkwanmusic - a multi talented singer and songwriter, their presence on stage is unbeatable and they can do choreo, sing live and do three outfit reveals. Iconic!
Adam All - @adamall_drag - a fantastic and BRILLIANT drag king, who constantly delivers stunning performances and uses their platform to speak about gender, LGBTQ+ rights, drag and more. We need to shout about drag kings more!
Best advice you’ve been given… was off Trixie Mattel, who repeated it on a show from Bianca Del Rio ' Think about how much you think you should charge for your work, and then TRIPLE it. That's how much you ask the client to pay you'. Has never failed me.
What’s next for @domandink?
There is so much planned! I'm working on some really exciting proposals for publishing at the moment and a lot of other behind the scenes stuff. If you want to follow me on Instagram @domandink, there will be so much dropping there over the next few months!
I think a lot of my inspiration came from the amazing figures in the book! Watching them be important activists, game changers and icons, inspired me to do more for the LGBTQIA+ community. I always try and tie queerness into my work, so for me, getting the opportunity to do a queer AF book for the community and about the community was huge! I really wanted to platform these voices in a way that engaged with readers and made the reader want to follow and support the icons in the book and their work.
What does ‘queer power’ mean to you?
'Queer Power' can be so many things! For me, it makes me think of standing proud in your gorgey rainbowness and accepting yourself and loving yourself for who you are. I also think on a personal note, it can be applied to those moments where you sit there in your authentic truth, thinking about what you've been through or had to navigate to get to where you are with your queerness and you say to yourself, 'F★★k yeah, Queer Power!'.
You’ve illustrated for @dragraceukbbc @thepinkpalace and @littlemixthesearch, when did your journey into illustration begin?
Very early! I taught myself to draw at a very young age from a book about drawing for comics. So, I've always loved to draw and create characters and stories and do typography. Illustration wise, I created 'DOM&INK' in 2013 and did the odd job here and there and then my work finally took off more recently from 2019 when I went full time freelance. So, it's been a journey hun!
Who is your favourite person you’ve drawn?
You can't make me choose!!! There's too many! Can I say everyone in 'Queer Power'?! I do have a special place for anything drag related, as I love costume design so getting to draw amazing drag queens, kings and thems is always a treat for me.
What was the best reaction to one of your illustrations?
I think it was with my book, 'Free To Be Me' which was an LGBTQIA+ journal for ages 12+. We had anonymous sensitivity readers go through it and one of them said seeing a queer character in the book in a wheelchair made them feel 'seen' and for me, that was a big moment of why I draw and create what I do. I want to draw the representation so many queer people never got and help people be platformed and feel 'seen'. I even had a little cry when I read that, and hun, I don't cry much!
Who would be your dream dinner guests?
Britney. Cher. Jane McDonald and the entire cast of every Real Housewives franchise ever? Can we make it a dinner/house party? Please?
Who is on your feel-good playlist right now?
At the moment, I love a good pop playlist and love me some Gaga and my babes Little Mix, but I also love discovering new queer artists and I have a huge love for Desta French, Laville and Jason Kwan. They serve absolute bops!
Go-to lip sync song… Christina Aguilera 'Dirrty'. After that Drag Race All Stars lip sync, it's ALL I SING ALL DAY.
Who would you be on Snatch Game?
I've had this chat so many times! Ok, I think I could do a good Tanya Turner from Footballers Wives. Bubblies In The Fridge!?
3 creatives you’d like to spotlight?
Adryan Tunde Abii-Smith @chidiabiistudio - their work is absolutely glorious and their figures are just chef's kiss. I cannot wait to see them absolutely take over and smash it!
Jason Kwan @jasonkwanmusic - a multi talented singer and songwriter, their presence on stage is unbeatable and they can do choreo, sing live and do three outfit reveals. Iconic!
Adam All - @adamall_drag - a fantastic and BRILLIANT drag king, who constantly delivers stunning performances and uses their platform to speak about gender, LGBTQ+ rights, drag and more. We need to shout about drag kings more!
Best advice you’ve been given… was off Trixie Mattel, who repeated it on a show from Bianca Del Rio ' Think about how much you think you should charge for your work, and then TRIPLE it. That's how much you ask the client to pay you'. Has never failed me.
What’s next for @domandink?
There is so much planned! I'm working on some really exciting proposals for publishing at the moment and a lot of other behind the scenes stuff. If you want to follow me on Instagram @domandink, there will be so much dropping there over the next few months!