Naja Simeon
Shares His
Love For Art
Photo and Story by Stan Bishop
Q: When did you first take up art?
Naja: I was either four or five years old
when I took up art, but I always remember
staring at things, observing, and drawing.
Q: So you would have taken art at the
CSEC level, right? I’m guessing you earned
a Grade One.
Naja: No, I didn’t get a Grade One. I don’t
know what happened. However, I got the
school’s award for most outstanding student
in visual arts.
Q: When did you decide to make art a
business?
Naja: Literally last year, but I’ve always
been selling my work, displaying at shows,
and even set up a website promoting my
work. Last year, I registered the business,
Sakey Productions.
Q: You’ve also been collaborating with
various groups to raise awareness about
the environment through art by painting
captivating and colourful murals in public
spaces. What motivates you to do that?
Naja: I’ve worked with the Gros Islet
Secondary School Conservation Club and
other groups to create that awareness. I’m
very passionate about the environment
because I use it as a backdrop for
inspiration. Through my art, I try to protect
the environment as much as I can. I have a
beautiful crew of art students and they do
some amazing work.
Q: What forms do you specialize in?
Naja: My art is always changing. I started
with oil paintings, realistic portraits, and
landscapes in the styles of the grand masters.
In Saint Lucia, the type of art people want
is not the type for decoration. They want to
feel something about that piece of art. So my
murals have changed to tell a story, giving
you bright colours that capture you. Then
I have abstract themes about community,
love, sports, unity, etc.
Q: I also notice you paint sneakers. How
did that come about?
Naja: I just do that for the love of it.
Someone asked me to do it for them and
things just snowballed from there when
other people realized I can do that.
60 SL-YOU | It’s All About Business
Q: You’re also an art teacher. Where do
you teach and what class range?
Naja: Right now I teach at Gros Islet
Secondary School. Prior to that, at 17, I
started teaching at Saltibus Combined and
Laborie Boys’ Primary before enrolling at
Teacher’s College at 19 years old. I went back
to teaching before attending university to
study engineering and art and now I’m back
to teaching art. So most of my life has been
spent either going to school or teaching at
a school.
Q: You’re affiliated with Island Mix in
Rodney Bay, where artists assemble to
discuss art and other topics and showcase
their work. How did this forum come about?
Naja: Island Mix is owned and run by Nadia
Jabour. It’s an art emporium where 50-plus
artists from across Saint Lucia involved in
painting, fashion, jewelry and other genres
meet. We sit, drink coffee and tea, and
critique each other’s work. It’s the popular
artists’ hub right now.
Q: Is Island Mix open to budding artists
as well?
Naja: Of course! We actually offer drawing
courses here and have been doing so every
Wednesday for the past three years. The
classes are very small because we want to
give students individual attention.
Q: You’ve won three awards at the
National Youth Awards over the past three
years. How did you manage to pull off that
achievement?
Naja: I’ve won three consecutive awards
for Most Outstanding Youth in Visual Arts.
I do the work and people see it. So they’re
the ones who nominate me and I’m thankful.
Q: Do you think art gets the appreciation
it deserves in Saint Lucia?
Naja: It’s getting there. There are people
who are willing to pay top dollar for art,
especially if they know or follow the artists
creating those pieces. Art is not an easy
thing to do -- it’s actually one of the highest
cognitive abilities one can have. So we must
appreciate art and artists.
Insta: @sakeyproductions
E: [email protected]
W: sakeyproductions.com
YouTube: sakeyproductions
Facebook: sakeyproductions, Naja Simeon
www.slyoumag.com | September-October 2019