biography 

Emily Louise Howard is the hands, head and heart behind The Diggingest Girl, a printmaking + illustration + crafts studio recently relocated to Atlanta, Georgia from Erlanger, KY.

Identifying as an artist from the tender age of seven, Emily studied fine art at the University of Kentucky, receiving a B.F.A. in painting. Emily achieved an M.F.A. from the University of Cincinnati, printmaking, painting and sculpture as part of her Master's thesis, also earning a Master of Art Education with K-12 licensure. In 2019, Emily became an author for the first time upon the publication of her instructional printmaking book Block Print Magic (Quarto).

Emily lives in a little house in the suburbs of the big city. She runs her business out of her home studio with her cat, Selu, and the occasional helping hand from her husband, David.  

selected honors & publications

  • First Place Prize in Graphics, Wyoming Art Show; Cincinnati, OH - 2018
  • ​​Top Ten Honor, USA Today's 10 Best Arts & Crafts Makers - 2017
  • Merit Award in Printmaking, Pink Palace Crafts Fair, Memphis, TN - 2016
  • Merit Award in Printmaking, Art on the Commons, Kettering, OH - 2016
  • Merit Award in Printmaking, Lower Town Arts & Music Festival, Paducah, KY - 2016
  • Feature: Profiles in printmaking. UPPERCASE, 25: 86. 2015
  • Second Place Prize in Printmaking, Milford Art Affaire; Milford, OH - 2015
  • First Place Prize in Graphics, Wyoming Art Show; Cincinnati, OH - 2012
  • Merit Award in Printmaking, AFB Woodland Park Art Fair; Lexington, KY - 2011
  • Third Place Honor in Printmaking, Summerfair Cincinnati; Cincinnati, OH - 2011
  • Graduate Student Association Research Award; University of Cincinnati - 2010
  • First Place Honor, American Spirit, Cincinnati Art Galleries, LLC; Cincinnati, OH - 2009
  • ​Wolfstein Travel Fellowship; University of Cincinnati - 2009