Emily Luyk and Strange Growth
Grand Rapids, Michigan illustrator, Emily Luyk shares with us her fantastical illustrations and the creative process that goes along with them. Her work is skilled and conscious of the incredible magic in nature around us all.
Artist, Emily Luyk
KARIDA: When can you remember really connecting with art making and your creativity?
EMILY LUYK: I’ve enjoyed the creative process as far back as I can remember, but I really started to develop a style and get in my groove around 2011. I had just moved back from California and didn’t really know anyone, so I had a lot of time to focus on my art. It helped me meet people and get involved with local creatives. And, bonus, make great friends.
Blossom Opossum
pen & marker on bristol
K: When you’re in the studio, what does your day look like? Do you have a specific routine you stick to?
EL: Everyday looks a little different, but I always have a goal to be productive. Answering emails, updating my to-do list, and packaging and shipping Etsy orders are daily tasks. As for art-making, I usually have at least a couple of projects in progress simultaneously, and I bounce around between which one feels right in the moment. If I’m not sure what choices to make for a drawing or it feels frustrating, I’ll work on the other piece. If I’m not feeling either one, I’ll get some of my administrative needs met -- contact publishers, sketch, edit newly scanned works, update my website. Things like that. There’s always plenty to do!
K: What kinds of things bring inspiration to your life and work? What sparks joy in your heart?
EL: Near or far, I really just love to be outside. I’m fascinated with all things science and nature, and I believe both are pretty much connected to everything in the world. I’m always taking in the natural sensory notes anywhere I travel -- the textures of different plants, animal sounds and sights, the shifts in a landscape, the weather, the sky and the clouds. When I take breaks from my studio, I usually step outside to look at plants in the yard and browse my garden. Truthfully, I’m a tree hugger and care a great deal about the environment.
On a different note, I also love a good book — especially fiction — and enjoy combining a little fantasy or whimsy into my natural subject matter.
Buffalo (APIB Series)
pen & marker on bristol
K: How has the artist community in Grand Rapids shown up for you? What are some areas of improvement? What does GR do really well for it’s artists?
EL: There is a huge artist community for the size of our city and I think that’s really rad. It feels like an essential part of the area and there are so many talented people. When I first moved here, I met a lot of them and participated in several small group shows, which were really inspiring and crucial to my growth. I am also ultra grateful for the connections I made at KCAD. The Kendall professors and fellow alumni have been so important to my career and are still there for moral support. I believe networking and having the right connections here really matters, which can be hard for someone who feels mostly socially awkward like myself. Sometimes it’s a bit more difficult to break into certain aspects, or find out about different opportunities before the deadline has passed, which can be frustrating. I’ve been dying to do a mural in GR, but haven’t been able to snag one, yet!
Emily working on her ARTPath mural in Lansing, MI.
K: How do you respond to your inner critic?
EL: Depends on the day. Usually, I just need to give myself a little pep talk and remind myself that patience is essential. There’s always room for growth, and the growth is part of the fun. I try to remember to be inspired by other artists without making comparisons that only make me feel bad. My inner critic comes out the most when I’m stressed or anxious, even if the initial source of those feelings has nothing to do with my art. Sometimes, I just need a little time away from my work when that’s the case. I’ll organize my studio, go for a walk, take care of something around the house I’ve been putting off, or do something relaxing that puts me at ease. I always come back around feeling fine. I love creating too much to let that voice in my head ruin it for me.
Fox (APIB Series)
pen & marker on bristol
K: When you experience a creative block, what are some things you do to resolve that challenge? Any advice to other artists that are experiencing a block?
EL: So kind of touching back on my days in the studio, I always have more than one project in the works. Alternating between them can keep things fresh and focused, without having to stop working. A lot of times my stuck feelings resolve while I’m working on the other piece, and then I’ll get excited to go back to the one that’s been giving me creative block.
And like I mentioned before, some days that’s not enough. Be easy on yourself -- walk away for a minute, answer an email, add some new work to your website, sketch something carefree, read a chapter in your book -- your creative flow will come back.
K: Who are some artists that you look up to or are in awe of? What about them or their work do you connect with the most?
EL: There is such a wide range of artists I respect and feel inspired by, it’s hard to only name a few. Some modern ones, though, are Lisa Ericson, Lauren Marx, Alex Kuno, Vasilisa Romanenko, Teagan White, Christina Mrozik, Emma Black, Allison Sommers, Zoe Keller, Jessica Roux. I could keep going! Not to mention countless classic artists and illustrators, former professors, and local artist friends I look up to. Many of the named artists have a combination of natural elements and fantasy, which I’m really drawn to. More importantly, though, their work is clean, consistent, and they’re just killing it all around.
Strange Growth
pen & marker on bristol
K: What do you think is the greatest duty of an artist?
EL: I would say that it’s to successfully convey a message, idea, or feeling.
K: How has social media and the digital experience been a benefit or hindrance to your creative process?
EL: Social media has brought my art to light for a lot of people who would otherwise not see it. This has sparked a huge amount of new connections, work, opportunities, and sales for my online store.
However, it’s also brought distractions and lots of them, room for comparison — bringing my inner critic to life at times — stress, and horrible algorithms that I think we can all agree suck pretty bad.
Early Birds
pen & marker on bristol
K: What are some of your favorite pieces you’ve created so far? How did you come across the inspiration for them?
EL: Most recently, I’m pretty proud of my mural “Living” in Lansing which I completed for ARTPath 2020. It’s my first, and so far only, mural. I also generally work pretty small, so this made it really challenging, but also more rewarding at the end.
The idea sparked from floral pen & marker illustrations I’ve done in the past, where I tried to convey the idea that plants are alive and in motion.
Desert Glitter
pen & marker on bristol
K: If you could share some advice or info for your younger artist self, what would you say?
EL: I had an art teacher in middle school once tell me that I couldn’t be a career artist when I grew up — that no one could. She said it wasn’t a feasible option anymore “like in Picasso’s day.” As much as I continued to love and create art through high school — my high school art teachers rocked — that did deflate me quite a lot and sent me down a pretty confused path at the start of college. I wish I could go back to my old self and show me that it’s possible. It takes a lot of time, practice, and patience, but after a delayed start I’m finally doing it.
K: What is the best way that your community can best support you as an artist?
EL: Being an artist has a lot of different challenges and aspects, so there are a lot of ways to help. Buy art and handmade goods, of course, leave a nice review, spread the word to friends and family, follow me on Instagram and Facebook, like and comment on posts which helps defeat the awful social media algorithms. You could hire me to draw your pet, tell a local business about me when you hear they need a muralist, send a message to tell me why you like my work and brighten my day. Honestly, every little thing helps and is so appreciated!
Barn Owl
pen & marker on bristol