A peep into the colourful world of artist Abi Fantastic
The name…
The name Fantastic was given to me at art college. My teacher was called Abi and it all got confusing so my friend Jack came into class stoned one day and just called me Abi Fantastic. We started an art collective together called Collaboration Station which was a platform for artists to support each other. We hosted a one day mini art festival and I used that name for it and since then it’s been my art name. When I went to uni I introduced myself as Abi Fantastic and that’s now my website. It’s always been my signature on paintings too. But just to clarify I didn’t give myself that name, it was Jack! I’m not that big headed, it came very organically.
Art Attack on Acid
I was always obsessed with Art Attack since I was teeny tiny. My mum would buy me the Art Attack VHSs and I always loved making, drawing, creating. I then did art at school, did my Art Foundation in Bournemouth, studied art at uni… I just always wanted to paint. I’m the youngest of seven and I’m the only one who went to uni. My dad was so proud and said what are you going to do and I said “Fine Art” and he said “Oh f*ck off, what a waste fo f*cking time.” But he came to my first solo show in Chinatown in my first year and I pretty much sold everything. He apologised and said he thought it was going to be an expensive hobby but could now see this is my career. He was my biggest fan! The rest of the family are all into business, sales, etc. I was just the weird little creative one at the end. My tutor at uni looked at one of my pieces once and said it looked like ‘Art Attack on acid’! I’ve got that as a quote now on my website.
Career highlights
I’ve had a few good commissions in San Fransisco where people have paid for my flights out there, including a 14 metre mural. The lady put up a bell tent for me in her art area they called The Unicorn State and I stayed there about a month. I completed the mural in stages because my work is very much about layering. For another commission they bought all the canvases before I go there and just gave me free reign. I painted a peacock, one of my favourite pieces I’ve ever done.
Hotel du Lac
Kyle introduced me to Helen and Nick. I love Nick and Helen, they’re so sweet. Kyle has been great getting me involved with different things around town. Helen and Nick bought two pieces for Hotel du Lac and there are others there on show which people can buy. The piece in the lounge or ‘blue room’ next to the bar is split canvas. I love to do split canvases. I do quite bold, driptych work so a split canvas helps make it more accessible to the eye.
The hair
I stopped brushing my hair when I was 15. I had really crazy curly hair. I was a bit of a Tomyboy and loved hanging out with my brothers and absolutely hated brushing my hair because it would hurt because it was so knotty. We went to Spain on a family holiday and I was in and out of the sea and because I stopped brushing it the first signs of a dreadlock started and that was it! My dreadlocks are all natural: no wax, no gel, just salt water. And now I’ve got buttons, a little gnome, a key… I have one that’s super long because it’s been rewrapped and rewrapped and now I use it as a limbo line and a whip!
Morzine
I lived in Barcelona for seven years and was living a very crazy, fast-paced, hedonistic life there. When we sadly lost our daddy, we all went back to the UK. After the funeral my brother Josh, who has a passion for snowboarding and lives in Morzine, said why don’t you come to the mountains for a bit. It’s a great place to help with the grieving process. He also asked what I was doing to do for money and I said I’d paint. After a commission by some friends I posted on the Facebook group Morzine Crew and word of mouth did its thing from there. It’s been a great two years. Paint and party, that’s my life. (Keep up to date with Abi’s goings on by following her on Instagram.
Here in Morzine most of the requests are mountain-related. Generally I ask people their three favourite colours and go from there. It’s very explorative… I just love really colourful, crazy, abstract shit! When it comes to painting, the brighter the better. I do almost everything on the floor; it’s very pour based. I rarely use a paintbrush anymore. I love playing with materials and colours, inks and glosses and the reaction they have. It’s fun! There’s no planning; I just go for it and see what happens!
Barcelona
There is a Spanish version of Burning Man called Going Nowhere. I was invited their to build nests, upside down human sized birds nests! I bought a one way ticket and after the festival stayed on my friend’s roof terrace in Barcelona with all my camping gear for a month. Then a friend offered me a room and I ended up staying for 7 years. I’ve just bought a place just up the coast from Barcelona. My dad is already on the roof drinking whisky, I know he is!
Life as an artist
It’s hard, you have to really believe in yourself. I’ve been surviving off my paintings for the last few years now. Lots of artists have so much skill but no idea how to promote themselves or sell themselves. I was lucky to have had that with my dad. Sometimes I find it difficult when people ask what inspires my paintings. It comes from a part of me that I don’t really think about, it’s quite unconscious. There’s often no middle ground for artists, you’re either really rich or really pour; you just have to keep going. It’s my passion, I can’t see myself doing anything else so I’ve got to make it work and take the peaks with the troughs.
Author: Tiny travel Rebel