[ back to Reinventaissance ]

Abi Fantastic

Abi Fantastic

[ visit website ]

I am an Artist from the UK, and have been living in Barcelona the last 6 years but now having a stint in France. Painting is where my heart lies but I also work in many different creative realms.

My paintings are of a very Abstract Expressionism style, using very bright, bold colours and expressive marks. I work with lots of different media and materials in a very layered format, to create lots of depth and fluidity. The bigger and bolder the better, usually working on a split canvas with diptychs and triptychs. As my work is so bold, the split in the canvas seems to add something to the piece and makes it more readable to the eye. I hardly ever title my work as I love for the audience and onlooker to have their own interpretation of each piece. This can be very interesting and lets people have their own connection with the work!

I have a lot of fun with my work, which for me is what it’s all about. This you can see through how expressive my work can get.

I have been lucky enough to sell my work in many places across the world, with some great private commissions and collaborations in the UK, France, Spain, California, New York and Panama. I still have many places I would love to travel to and exhibit!

I also build Installations out of found and natural materials, which I describe as ‘Nests’. These installations take on the form of ‘upside down human sized birds nests’ and I have installed these at various events and festivals.

Alongside my painting and creating I have also been running my own Music & Art event over the last few years called ‘Collaboration Station’. This was started in the UK and has grown beautifully in Barcelona over the last few years. This event is used as a platform for Artists and Creatives to get together and support each other in creating fun events which have become a mini 1 day festival of the Arts! Within these events we have shown, painting, photography, performance, aerialists, magic, live music, DJs, massage, comedy, live painting, body painting and much more! I am always on the hunt for exciting new Artists to get involved!

My new exciting project I am working on at the moment is my new Fashion brand of ‘Fashions by Fantastic’. This is a new concept of taking the designs from my original, abstract paintings and putting these prints onto clothes, shoes and accessories. The bright, bold designs from my paintings make for some very exciting and original garments. This is a very new business so I am very excited to see where it heads.

To be a successful Artist has always been and always will be a difficult challenge… We must always seek new ideas, exciting concepts but above all have great belief in yourself! This past year has been one of the hardest yet, to move forward, adapt to new ways and this is why I am so grateful and excited to talk about my new journey from taking my ideas and designs off the canvas and onto clothes! Finding new ways to express myself and share that with the world!
I think a key message would be to never stop believing in yourself. And also always be open to adapting your practice and improving in new skills. One thing I have really been missing during these strange, lockdown times is doing my ‘Collaboration Station’ events, and meeting and finding other creatives to work with… so i have been open for the first time to improve my computer skills, which has been very useful for my fashion brand.
One tip I always try to give is to have fun with your work. As an Artist and creative I love what I do. It’s sometimes very hard to not get too stressed about where the next commission is coming from and how to survive financially, but then I remind myself why I’m doing it all and take comfort that I am living my life the only way I would want to. I’m living my best life … with a paint brush in my hand!
I think the physical act of painting has definitely kept me sane during these times. I have never really been much of an online or computer person. Teaching myself some website bits and getting my Fashion brand online has been a challenge for me, but it feels really good to know I’m learning and will keep discovering lots more throughout this year!
I think we are all trying to stay as positive as possible in these crazy time. I do believe this year will get better, but it really is all about understanding and adapting to what we need to do and focus on in our individual lives to stay sane, stay happy, stay creative which should help us stay smiling!

Abi Fantastic

[ visit website ]

I am an Artist from the UK, and have been living in Barcelona the last 6 years but now having a stint in France. Painting is where my heart lies but I also work in many different creative realms.

My paintings are of a very Abstract Expressionism style, using very bright, bold colours and expressive marks. I work with lots of different media and materials in a very layered format, to create lots of depth and fluidity. The bigger and bolder the better, usually working on a split canvas with diptychs and triptychs. As my work is so bold, the split in the canvas seems to add something to the piece and makes it more readable to the eye. I hardly ever title my work as I love for the audience and onlooker to have their own interpretation of each piece. This can be very interesting and lets people have their own connection with the work!

I have a lot of fun with my work, which for me is what it’s all about. This you can see through how expressive my work can get.

I have been lucky enough to sell my work in many places across the world, with some great private commissions and collaborations in the UK, France, Spain, California, New York and Panama. I still have many places I would love to travel to and exhibit!

I also build Installations out of found and natural materials, which I describe as ‘Nests’. These installations take on the form of ‘upside down human sized birds nests’ and I have installed these at various events and festivals.

Alongside my painting and creating I have also been running my own Music & Art event over the last few years called ‘Collaboration Station’. This was started in the UK and has grown beautifully in Barcelona over the last few years. This event is used as a platform for Artists and Creatives to get together and support each other in creating fun events which have become a mini 1 day festival of the Arts! Within these events we have shown, painting, photography, performance, aerialists, magic, live music, DJs, massage, comedy, live painting, body painting and much more! I am always on the hunt for exciting new Artists to get involved!

My new exciting project I am working on at the moment is my new Fashion brand of ‘Fashions by Fantastic’. This is a new concept of taking the designs from my original, abstract paintings and putting these prints onto clothes, shoes and accessories. The bright, bold designs from my paintings make for some very exciting and original garments. This is a very new business so I am very excited to see where it heads.

To be a successful Artist has always been and always will be a difficult challenge… We must always seek new ideas, exciting concepts but above all have great belief in yourself! This past year has been one of the hardest yet, to move forward, adapt to new ways and this is why I am so grateful and excited to talk about my new journey from taking my ideas and designs off the canvas and onto clothes! Finding new ways to express myself and share that with the world!
I think a key message would be to never stop believing in yourself. And also always be open to adapting your practice and improving in new skills. One thing I have really been missing during these strange, lockdown times is doing my ‘Collaboration Station’ events, and meeting and finding other creatives to work with… so i have been open for the first time to improve my computer skills, which has been very useful for my fashion brand.
One tip I always try to give is to have fun with your work. As an Artist and creative I love what I do. It’s sometimes very hard to not get too stressed about where the next commission is coming from and how to survive financially, but then I remind myself why I’m doing it all and take comfort that I am living my life the only way I would want to. I’m living my best life … with a paint brush in my hand!
I think the physical act of painting has definitely kept me sane during these times. I have never really been much of an online or computer person. Teaching myself some website bits and getting my Fashion brand online has been a challenge for me, but it feels really good to know I’m learning and will keep discovering lots more throughout this year!
I think we are all trying to stay as positive as possible in these crazy time. I do believe this year will get better, but it really is all about understanding and adapting to what we need to do and focus on in our individual lives to stay sane, stay happy, stay creative which should help us stay smiling!

[ back to Reinventaissance ]