ArtRoute Relleu
June 7 from 11am – 5pm
June 8 from 12pm – 4pm

The Relleu Museum is located in the old town hall, which was designed during the reign of Charles III and built in 1793 under Charles IV. There are several floors where you can take a fascinating journey into the past. You can learn more about the customs and traditions that were common not only in various professions but also in most Spanish households. Many of the objects on display were still used by our elders until recently.

Esther de Loreto

My artistic name is Esther de Loreto.
I am from Benidorm and currently have my workshop there.
I studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Altea from 2016-2018.
I started ceramics in a self-taught way while attending classes from various ceramists at the beginning, and even today I continue to train in constant artistic courses.
I was selected for the Altea Craft Fair for 38 editions in 2021, and this year they are celebrating 42 editions.
I collaborate with the Ecoaltea Fair and participate in Author Craft Fairs.
I am preparing exhibitions of illustrations and ceramics for upcoming shows.
I give ceramic workshops for children and adults.

Angela Vitali

I am from Barcelona and have been living in La Nucía for a year and a half.
I studied Education and Art History. I started oil painting at the age of 14.

I was part of a group of painters who painted landscapes outdoors, the group “Els coloristas”.
Later, I joined a very prestigious painters’ center in Barcelona, the Círculo Artístico de Sant Lluc.
We painted human figures with live models.
Afterwards, I spent some time learning at the school of a very renowned painter in my city: Xim Torrens Lladó.

I have never been able to fully devote myself to painting, as my professional life took a different direction, but painting has always remained a parallel passion.

My style: figurative, somewhat impressionistic, in oil.
I have participated in some group exhibitions and also a solo exhibition at Eco Centro in Madrid.
Some of my paintings have always been sold.
But most of my work has been commissioned by private individuals.

My paintings are cheerful and colorful. I receive commissions to paint angels, one of my specialties.
Currently, I am also expanding my technique with acrylics.
I am an active retiree, still working in my own profession, but trying to spend more time painting.
Participating in an exhibition motivates me to continue.

Karin Louwman

My name is Karin Louwman and I have been drawing and painting since I was young. When I was about 12 years old, I even won a pony in a competition. I have taught myself a lot and am still learning. Since living in Spain, I spend more time on it. Besides painting, I also make miniatures, figures from wire, clay, and wool.
I really enjoy being able to show my work to a larger audience and look forward to doing so in Relleu.
For various people, I have drawn and painted their pets on commission, and over time I have also sold some paintings and hope to inspire others in the future, for example by organizing courses.

Marijke Helmonds

Color and Happiness

Alongside my work as a lawyer in Amsterdam and caring for my family, I have always enjoyed painting since 1986.
During weekly painting lessons at Ateliers Buri in Amsterdam, I learned to paint large-scale with oil paint. Since 2017, I have lived in Spain for almost six months a year. This has made my work even more colorful.
I find my inspiration in nature, food, and travel. In short, in the colorful world around me.
In my work, I try to capture moments of happiness full of color.

Herman Schoo

Hello, I am Herman Schoo.
About seven years ago, I started painting. During a visit to the Netherlands, I saw something that inspired me — I thought: maybe I can do that too.
I started gathering information and just began. In the beginning, I got a lot of inspiration from my membership at “Vrolijk Schilderij”. Unfortunately, they eventually stopped. But during that time, I learned that painting is mainly a matter of doing — and that anyone can do it.
In that same cheerful style, I started giving workshops myself. What I noticed: it really is true that everyone can paint. With a little guidance, it often works surprisingly well. During the workshops, I noticed that I could get people excited to get started themselves.
Due to lack of space and time, I eventually stopped. Since then, I have learned a lot through videos on the internet, teaching myself various techniques.
I am still searching for my own style — something you will probably see in my work.
During these two days, I hope to meet people whom I can make as enthusiastic about painting as I have become.

Maria and Alba

Mother and daughter living in Relleu.

MarlienWEAR

MarlienWEAR is a Dutch fashion brand, designed by a young woman who grew up in a small village but always dreamed of the big world. The designs of Marlien Peeters balance excitingly between high-end fashion and streetwear. She often sees high-end fashion as uncomfortable and tries to break boundaries by applying traditional elements of streetwear culture. This is infused with a punk edge and a different way of constructing.
She plays with subjects considered ugly, depressing, or silly – and transforms them into something funny, beautiful, or attractive. It is precisely the tension between these opposites, with lots of contrast, from which her designs arise.
The collections of MarlienPeeters are designed for people who feel different from the community in which they grew up or live. Recurring themes in her collections are social order in relationships, sexuality, society, and politics. From these themes, MarlienWEAR creates unique pieces, often with oversized or voluminous shapes and bright – often mismatched – colors.
She graduated in BA Fashion Design at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and gained work experience at SCHEPERSBOSMAN and David Laport.

Mitra Ghasemi

I am Mitra Ghasemi, a 54-year-old Persian painter and art professor. I have taught art for more than 25 years at secondary schools and universities and am now retired. I have lived in Spain for 8 years and devote my time to my family and my art.

Tineke Vlijm

I have been drawing and painting since I was young.
During my student days at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, I discovered oil paint and was immediately hooked.
Alongside my work, I have always painted, mostly landscapes, sometimes real, sometimes imaginary.
The real development came much later, around 2005, when I came into contact with beeswax during a spiritual course; a totally different technique, also called encaustic art. It relies heavily on combinations of colors, which you melt on an iron and then spread on paper, canvas, or even glass.
In addition to this rather intuitive way of using beeswax, I have also developed a technique for drawing with beeswax, using a stylus.
Around the same time, 2005, I heard about water-mixable oil paint; a much more environmentally friendly paint, which you mix with linseed oil and water.
Over the years, I have further developed my techniques, built a website (which no longer exists), had a stand at art markets in the Netherlands for years, had several exhibitions in Haarlem, Bodegraven, and Hoofddorp, sold quite a bit of work, and made several paintings, both oil and beeswax, on commission.
Since moving to Spain in 2010, I have continued painting, partly at home, partly in painting classes and studios in Relleu, then Villajoyosa, and now Elche.
I am a member of the Asociacion de Belles Artes in Elche and regularly participate in group exhibitions in cultural centers and spaces.

*CreaClubRelleu almost 1 year!*

What started with a few creative ladies has grown into a cozy club with participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, and England. At Casa Mannic, we now meet two mornings a week for creativity, inspiration, and above all, lots of fun.
Here’s to many more enjoyable moments together!

Mahfoud

Mahfoud was born in November 1943 and has Algerian and Swiss nationality.
He spent his youth modeling animal shapes and all kinds of figures, which he gave to his friends.
He completed his compulsory studies in the merchant navy and obtained his bachelor’s degree.
After independence, he became fascinated by art and decided at the age of 20 to attend the Algerian School of Fine Arts.
For two and a half years, he worked passionately on clay sculptures and design. After this period, his scholarship was withdrawn, simply because he laughed too much and, according to his classmates, because he annoyed them… but with talent.
For three years, he presented his work at various international fairs in Algeria.
In 1966, he left Algeria and came to Geneva (Switzerland), where he studied dramatic art and dance at the same time. His interpretation of space and matter led him to create acrylic works for the anniversary of composer Frank Martin and to renovate the interiors of old houses.
These works are made as sculptures.
During this period, he also studied animation at the Institute of Social Studies and specialized in psychiatry. Between 1969 and 1984, he ran a shelter for the mentally ill.
In 1996, he came to Spain, specifically to the municipality of Relleu (Alicante), to an estate surrounded by olive and almond trees and peace. In that peace and solitude, he devoted himself entirely to making wooden sculptures.
He participated in the International Grand Prix “Cannes Azur 2001” and received the official diploma, the grand gold medal, and the first prize from the M.C.A. 2001.
In 2002, he exhibited in Geneva, Paris, and the Algerian Cultural Center. The public discovered the sensitivity and freshness characteristic of his work.
In 2002-2003, he exhibited at the town hall of Relleu (Alicante).
Mahfoud Sellaoui is a passionate man, his love for humanity is immense. He is attached to bodies and forms, to the movement and energy they radiate, but also to the love for others, their spirit, and their inner wealth.
The works of Mahfoud are a continuous play between sensuality and sensitivity, vulnerability and tact, space, strength, and poetry.

Francina van ‘t Veld

My name is Francina van ‘t Veld. I live in Amsterdam and paint alternately in Amsterdam and Relleu, Spain. I make my paintings with acrylic or oil paint on linen or canvas. Initially, I was mainly inspired by the body. An arm, an armpit, a décolleté, enlarged on a large scale. Occasionally alternated with an abstract. After the last lockdown during the covid period, I longed for conviviality and started painting “borrel” (drinks) paintings. My first “borrel” painting is called “lockdown is over”. I continued this drinks theme, now also on small panels. I also find inspiration in musicians. On request, I paint portraits and other desired subjects. More information can be found on my website: www.fhv-kunst.nl.

Victoria Bustamante Serrano

Good afternoon,

Victoria E. Bustamante Serrano was born in 1957 in Madrid. She has always been interested in various artistic forms of expression: sculpture, painting, and engraving. She took her first steps at the University P. de Leganés, where she started in the modeling and sculpture studio. She stayed in the city until she was twenty-two and then moved to the north of the Madrid region.

In this natural environment, she rediscovered her passion for art and expanded her education with various workshops in life drawing, sculpture, and painting. She worked with ceramist Gabriela Mourrut on the production and glazing of mainly tea sets and other utensils. Mourrut specializes in stoneware turning.

Victoria was influenced by the colorful style of painter Anselm Cabús and made for him the clay model for the sculpture El geni i la força bruta, which is exhibited in Cubelles. During this period, she participated in group exhibitions.

For several years, she combined her artistic education with a study of Spanish Philology, work, and family life. Her creative motivation has always been present, primary and instinctive. Writing and painting are for her an intimate and personal form of expression. She lived for more than ten years alternately in Alicante and Madrid, until she settled a few years ago in the Marina Baixa.

In this inspiring environment, she found new motivation and a better ability to capture the beauty and essence of her surroundings. During this period, she focused more intensively on painting and artistic creation. Her working method changed considerably: she felt increasingly comfortable with oil paint and palette knife, but also with ink, paper, and textiles. Her work shows a certain compositional variation and a break with formal composition. Her painting is emotional, colorful, and spontaneous.

Teachers in various disciplines:
Luz Mª Aranda (sculpture and modeling)
Ana Blasco (basic sculpture, oil painting)
Gabriela Mourrut (ceramic techniques)
Anselm Cabús i Torrá (colors and textures)
Álvaro Sellés (life drawing and quick painting techniques)
Mercedes Moro (drawing and painting)
Mª del Carmen Llinares (painting)
Ricardo Fuente Caamaño (painting)

She participated in group exhibitions and had her last solo exhibition in 2023 at the Museo de Finestrat with the exhibition Paisajes y otras cosas.

Yvonne Ruiter and Wim Pechtold

Wim is my neighbor and 85 years old and has lived in Alfaz del Pi for a long time. He has worked with ceramics for 40 years and has a beautiful studio at his house. In his garden, he has a permanent exhibition of his work, with the showpiece being a beautiful large sculpture depicting time, stars, and planets. A few years ago, we started a spiritual center: Verdolaga Center, as Wim’s neighbors, and we became friends, also creatively. In the center, we give courses and workshops where Wim and I often come up with ideas together on how to make them in physical form. This led to the chakra square with colored chakras, explanations about chakras, etc., and the Eastern wise women cabinet with lotus flowers serving as bowls for herbs. Our latest project is the four elements labyrinth. For that, the pieces we are now making are intended. There is a large globe with holes to look into your inner world, with an explanation of how to do that, a finger labyrinth where you follow a different path with your finger with your eyes closed than you had thought beforehand, and a wishing well, which we are still working on. So, three interactive objects. They will be placed in our meditation/barefoot path as part of an activity.

Marleen Schoemans

My name is Marleen Schoemans. I live in Pelt (Belgium) and spend several months a year in Relleu.
I have always had a passion for art.
I took my first steps at the academy in Antwerp in 1982 (evening school).
After art school, I continued drawing and painting.
My artistic work is a variation of watercolors and acrylic paintings.
My passion currently lies in realistic watercolors of people, landscapes, nature, flowers, and animals.
My style is realistic and recognizable.