Art enthusiasts got the opportunity to learn from James Keul, a well-accomplished oil painter and experienced artist, in an art workshop at the Tiapapata Arts Centre on Saturday.

He introduced the art technique of monotype printing, which is a quick and simple printmaking process where a unique print, typically painterly is made by applying paint or printing ink to a flat sheet of metal, glass, or plastic and then the painted image is transferred to paper either by manually rubbing or using a press.

Rachel Murray, 66, of Edinburgh in Scotland was ecstatic at the opportunity to be a part of an art hobby, which she had never thought of ever taking up before until she arrived in Samoa as part of her vacation.

“I’ve just been seeing the beaches, the greenery and everything seems so lush and this is new for me because it’s not like this in Edinburgh,” she said. “Now today there is a workshop, which is something I have never done before. 

"I love supporting art and appreciating it but I’m no artist and I think the opportunity to have a go is a great privilege and I feel very lucky that I am here."

She accepts that it does not have to be good but she had a go after being inspired by the beautiful turquoise sea, the palm trees that bend over the beaches, and the lush green environment which she tries to put in her artwork.

Galumalemana Steven Percival, who runs the Tiapapata Art Centre with his wife Wendy and their children, told the Samoa Observer that artists like Mr. Keul play an important role in inspiring people and influencing them to make better and wiser choices towards social issues.

He said artists and the voices of artists are important in all conversations revolving around social discourses that are happening in societies around the world and also the issues when it comes to the environment. 

Their input into the narrative is important because they can provide a great deal of inspiration, and change mindsets and the way people think, according to Galumalemana. 

“It’s wonderful that people come to learn from someone like James Keul because he’s quite experienced as an artist. What I like about his work is that he relates it to themes of importance such as climate change,” he said. “The Fish in Troubled Waters painting of his will appear in the new report of the United States Government is a great example of how his articulation can have an impact around the world.”