Emily Kirk Design + Art

03/18/2025

Back at it with digital painting.

08/07/2023

When I work with clients, they often have a clear idea of what they want, and I'm able to dive into and create whatever it is they need.

But designing something for yourself is far more nebulous. There is no client telling you what they like or don't like about what you're doing. There are so many different paths and aesthetics to explore even for the simplest logo.

I had an idea of what I wanted, and started rendering. As time went on, however, it just wasn't right. It was too busy, cramped lettering made it hard to read, and the aesthetic didn't suit me. So I put it aside and moved on.

It took longer than expected, but I finally made a logo I like and that I'm proud of. On social media, it's so easy to present the end result without showing any sort of process, making the creation process seem effortless and easy. Good things take skill, time, and passion, and it's my goal to do good work, no matter how difficult it is.

08/06/2023

Recently, I quit my day job to full-time freelance graphic design and blacksmith.

This is the logo I created for my blacksmithing business. It went through a handful of revisions, which I will get into in another post.

Since I was young, I was interested in metalworking. Shortly after I started welding at my old day job, I became interested in blacksmithing. I got an anvil, welded my own anvil stand, but didn't really have a chance to forge anything until I met my husband, who had gotten into blacksmithing as a teenager, and had a small workshop at the ready. Since then, I've had many irons in the fire, figuratively and literally!

If blacksmithing is at all interesting to you, give the Kirk Forge page a follow! I have so many cool and unique things to share, and I've only just begun.

07/24/2023

I wanted to experiment with Kay Nielsen's style of illustrating, so I chose to draw a friend's fantasy novel character.

Gouche with ink and gold leaf detailing.

07/11/2023

07/27/2021

56 out of 100

07/15/2021

54 out of 100