Artworks by Kume Bryant

Embracing the beautiful chaos of painting, I follow my creative path with absolute freedom in each piece, silencing the brain's chatter with each brushstroke.

I am a Korean-American artist in Tucson, Arizona, United States. I was a graphic artist for over 20 years... along the way, I discovered a love for painting thanks to my husband's nudges. Self-taught since 2007, now breathing life into canvases and finding peace.

I enjoyed being a graphic artist, but I stopped when my son was born. I desired to be a stay-at-home mom for my son. I was able to do part-time freelance work thanks to my beautiful sister-in-law, who oversees an advertising agency, and my former boss, who provided me with work that I can do from home, along with some other freelance jobs when available. All the while, I wondered about those artists who make beautiful paintings. They seem magical and dreamy. I sometimes speak about it with my husband as a passing conversation. One day, he brought me a photo of his coworker going camping with a couple of donkeys and said, "Paint this, just for fun, and see how you feel". I took on the challenge and bought myself a small canvas, a beginner set of oil paints, and an instructional booklet on oil painting. I didn't have any skills, but I still had fun figuring it out. The painting turned out well, and I loved the feeling it evoked. I gave the painting to his friend, and he loved it. Over the years, I have tried various mediums, and I have come to love acrylics best for their quick-drying and layering effects. 

For many years, painting was a hobby while raising my son. I was experimenting and enjoying the process. I listed those I played with on eBay at very low prices and sold a lot of them as well. LOL! It was 2012 when I finally started selling my work more seriously, but it still took another four years to build a website and consider myself an artist. In 2023, my husband and I purchased a new house, and I took up a new hobby: decorating and creating a vegetable and flower garden. I took a two-year break from painting. With many ideas running through my mind, I am currently bringing those ideas to canvas again in July 2025. ––stay tuned.