18 Jul 2026 Youth of the Month: Lilian Chumbley
By KD Reep
The first clues that Lilian Chumbley would become a talented artist began with My Little Pony. Lilian, 17, and the daughter of Tao and Robert Chumbley, was “totally obsessed” with the toy when she was 5, according to her mom. “One day, she proudly showed me a collection of drawings featuring dresses she had designed for her ponies. I was amazed by her creativity and artistic ability, even then. Looking back, that was one of the first signs of the talented artist she would become,” Mrs. Chumbley said.
With her senior year at Pulaski Academy on the horizon, Lilian looks forward to learning more skills. She cannot pinpoint when she first thought about becoming an artist because the drive and desire to create have always been there. “I’ve always considered myself an artist, but I didn’t realize I wanted to pursue art professionally until my sophomore year of high school,” she said. “Discovering painting expanded my view of what art could be and inspired me to explore new creative outlets beyond drawing.”
Lilian’s family includes musicians, pianists, vocalists, quilters and crafters — creative people in many different ways, Mrs. Chumbley said.
“We aren’t entirely sure where her talent for drawing and painting originated, but she does share some traits with my father, an engineer who is both artistic and highly analytical. Like him, she’s gifted in both art and math, which is a rare combination and one reason architecture has been discussed as a possible career path. Whatever the source of her talent, she was raised in an environment where creativity was celebrated, and that encouragement helped her develop and refine her abilities from a young age.”
Three years ago, the family even relocated from a small town in New Mexico so their three children could attend Pulaski Academy. “While there were many factors behind that decision, one was that Lilian’s artistic ability had reached a point where she needed more resources, mentorship and opportunities that simply weren’t available to us there. Watching her growth these past three years has only reinforced that it was the right decision,” Mrs. Chumbley said.
Lilian started with sketches and digital drawing but now her favorite medium is acrylic on canvas. Her acrylic-on-canvas painting “Bee-autiful” won second place in the Wildlife of Arkansas Student Art Competition, 10th-grade division, and was displayed at the state Capitol. That same painting also earned the Pulaski Academy President’s Award and will forever be displayed in the school.
Though her talent has led to many awards, what means the most to Lilian is the growth she has experienced at Pulaski Academy. “Looking back at where I started and seeing how much I’ve improved in both my technique and creativity is something I’m incredibly proud of,” she said.
Lauren Kinder, chair of the Pulaski Academy Visual Arts Department, said Lilian has a depth of curiosity and eagerness to learn. “I’ve worked as an art educator for over 20 years now, and there is always a tell in a student who will pursue art seriously, albeit in some shape or form, throughout their lives,” she said. “It isn’t talent or excellence that tells me that I am working with an exceptional artist; it is their desire and drive to create. It is a joy to watch her work; she can spend hours completely focused on a rendering or a painting. She works in silence, captivated by her vision and her desire to make beauty.”
Lilian plans to pursue an art-centered career and hopes to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. Her work can be viewed on Instagram at the account @lilianchumbleystudios, where she occasionally sells original pieces. Her website, linked on her Instagram under Project Palette, offers prints and merchandise featuring her artwork.
