Joke Frima [NRA 2016]
Blue beetle, 2022
Oil on canvas
12 x 16 inches (image)
13.5 x 17.5 x 1.75 inches (framed)

L I N E A G E
I am from Holland, I studied in Italy and live in rural France.

My connection with the 19th century and in particular with Jean Léon Gérôme is a direct line. My teacher Nerina Simi (1890- 1987) studied with her father Filadelfo Simi (1846-1923). Filadelfo studied with Gérôme in Paris from 1873- 1878.

Charles Cecil told me about Gammell and his teacher Paxton, who had been a student of Jean-Léon Gérôme same as Filadelfo Simi.

I combined my studies at Studio Simi (1976-1984) with teaching.
Later I worked as an independent artist with nature and in particular vegetation as my subject.

In 2019 I founded AdA, a non profit organisation to promote skill-based art. Traditional art is little appreciated in France now.
To a large extent the decision to teach again was inspired by Nerina Simi. As a former student and life-long advocate of skill based art, I would like to share her legacy.
www.ada-skill-based.art