Teacher talk: Kim Bromley
After selling auto parts and spices for two years, Kimble Bromley decided he needed a more creative lifestyle. Art became the associate professor’s passion after a long trek through years of school and completely contrasting jobs.
Bromley discussed his unusual hypnosis teaching style, travel hobby and his crusade in becoming a teacher in his downtown office with The Spectrum.
Bromley has been an art professor at NDSU for 10 years.
What did you study in college?
I was going to be a high school history teacher and a basketball coach. Then I switched to biology. I switched to business thinking that would be better to make some money. Then I switched to psychology and sociology. I got my undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology.
How did you stumble upon your desire to be an artist?
I went to graduate school in psychology. While there, we had to counsel each other. During my own personal counseling session, I discovered I really wanted to be an artist.
Why did you want to be involved in art?
There’s a lot of different reasons. One was I enjoy the social interaction with the students and other artists. But I also enjoy the time you have alone where you’re challenged to come up with your own ideas and concepts for your own work. And I like to color.
As a child did you ever have any moments in your life that showed off your love for art?
As a kid when people would say, ‘Well, what are you going to do when you grow up?’ I remember saying ‘An artist.’ I didn’t even know what that meant at the time. I remember drawing a horse as a kid. I took it and showed my mom, ‘cause I was so proud and she looked at it and said, ‘That’s OK.’ I thought, ‘My mom doesn’t know anything about art.’
What medium do you use in your artwork?
When I travel, I like to use pastels because they’re light and easy to pack. Although when they go through the scanners in airports, they show up like bullets.
How did you become interested in hypnosis?
I am a certified hypnotherapist by the National Guild of Hypnotists, which is the largest hypnosis organization in the world. When I was a teenager, I hated to go to the dentist. I read an article about (how to) use self-hypnosis and go to the dentist pain-free. So I researched that and found out how to self-hypnotize myself.
How did you use this in your teaching methods?
When I was at Kentucky Western, they had a stage hypnotist come through. I asked the hypnotist afterwards, ‘Can hypnosis help one with their art?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I don’t know why not.’ So I started using hypnosis in my studio by myself. And I thought if I could learn how to help other people and my students with hypnosis to be better artists, it would be really beneficial.
I developed a creativity enhancement workshop. Each workshop I do, we see significant results. I think we deal with a lot of fears, limitations and inhibitions in our own creativity, whether it be some experience we had as kids or (with) a parent or teacher. I just try to help students to loosen up and get rid of all those fears and limitations. I teach students to do self-hypnosis as well.
Whom do you admire?
You always got to say your parents. What was important for me with my parents is they were so open and so encouraging to do whatever you wanted to do. I had a good mentor in graduate school, and I’m still in touch with him after 30 years. For the last three summers, we’ve traveled to different locations to paint together.
You have traveled to many different countries to paint. Which country was your favorite or most exciting?
I would probably have to say Mexico, although Cuba was the most different. I liked Mexico because of the color. They (Mexicans) are a lot of fun to be around. When I go (to another country), I go out on the streets and paint.
Is there anything you’re working on now with your art?
I’ve been working on a billboard series. (I use) Newman signs, here in town. When they tear off their old billboard material, I go and pick it up, and I go make collages and paintings out of it. It’s collage with oil paint.
What is one of your best accomplishments?
I’m proud of raising two kids. I’m proud of the accomplishments at NDSU. When we came here, we had 20 to 25 majors, now we have about 100. When I came here, we were in these ugly old Quonsets, now we’re in heaven.
How do you want to be remembered in life?
As a nice guy. I’d like to be remembered as a good artist and a good teacher and somebody that’s approachable.
If you could be anything other than an artist, what would it be?
A forest ranger; I like to be outside.