BOWDO SCARF....ORANGE TASSLES....SWALLOW PRINT IN ORANGE

4 min read

My business is VIOLET HARTLEY, I create hand screen printed textiles, predominantly scarves. Hand etched (onto a zinc plate) and hand printed etchings, often hand coloured with water colour pencils.

I initially studied screen printing in WA (many years ago) and more recently completed a Diploma in Visual Arts in Melbourne. I have worked in the fashion industry most of my career in some way shape or form.

I feel very lucky to have a grown son and daughter and two fantastic grandchildren (who love to help me with drawing and creating).

I have a love of nature & colour and am particularly inspired by birds, trees, animals and my love of textiles and embellishment, which is reflected in my work.

What do you have on your work space at the moment?

At the moment I’m working on a new shipment of large silk/cotton scarves adorned with gorgeous coloured tassels. I am hand printing five new hand drawn designs onto these.

I also have samples and prototypes of art work on large canvas carry bags and silk velvet jackets with artwork on the back.

BOWDO SCARF....CIRCLE OF TREES PRINT IN KHAKI ...GREEN TASSLES

How would you describe your career so far and how did you get into this industry?

My career/business as an artist is really just blooming in the last decade as I have had the time to dedicate to it seriously.

I feel like I have been all my life practicing for it and experimenting with different products (clothing, cushions, etchings and painting) and different avenues of selling from to shops to selected artisan markets. When my daughter was very young I wanted to get out of the house for a few hours a week and learn something new (and talk to adults). Having always loved art in many forms and textiles, when I found something that combined the two…Screen Printing, I enrolled immediately and fell in love with the technique and process instantly.

What are some of the most important/ topical issues you tackle in your work?

It is extremely important to me to keep centuries old artisan skills alive and acknowledged for the skill they are.

I’d like people to understand and appreciate the work, time, experience and dedication that is involved with HAND MADE.

Mass produced, machine generated products don’t require skill and have no uniqueness. Tens of thousands of people can have exactly the same item when it is factory produced from a production line. I think it would be wonderful if people bought one beautiful unique item that has been made with love and with time honoured techniques and to know that no-one else has exactly the same item.

RED, NATURAL, GREEN, COTTON CHECK WITH WHITE FOLKBIRD PRINT

What are some things you learnt on your job that you didn’t expect to learn?

I was surprised to learn that if you give people too much choice with a product such as different styles, colours, fabrics, prints and size it will often cause confusion and because they can’t decide…they buy nothing!

Because I am very decisive and instantly like something, I thought people that loved handmade beautiful items would be the same.

Do you have a typical workday?

Normally…(not at the moment because of the Coronavirus) I rise early and travel to my daughters house to take my fabulous grandchildren to school. I love doing this because it makes me start the day early and by 9.15 I am up dressed, feeling fresh, happy at starting the day with a laugh with my grandchildren and back in my studio ready and eager to go.

From there, it could be designing new scarves or prints or actually printing, drying and heat pressing scarves.

I often have loud music on when I work, it makes me relaxed and happy and content.

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?

I always have a million things I want to do and create — so sticking to and concentrating on even a couple of projects is hard for me.

Money! Always a challenge as you need to invest in fabric, inks, screens etc. and it's all very expensive and it might be several months before any return on your investment.

Computer stuff…anything to do with a computer! It doesn’t come naturally and I prefer to use my hands and make something than spend the time to work it out.

What do you do in your ‘down time’ (and do you have a guilty pleasure)?

I love what I do so my “down time” is often doing the same things.

I read books, I’ve just read and loved Phosphorescence by Julia Baird.

Visiting art galleries and fabric stores.

Sitting on the verandah with my husband in late afternoon/evening and drinking Negronis.

What are some of the things which inspire you?

Nature - trees, birds, animals and flowers.
Colour - can be in nature or in a fabric store or what someone is wearing.
Music - puts me in a relaxed mood to create.

How do you balance work/ life?

As my studio/workspace is at home my husband usually makes me balance work/life. When he comes home from work tired, hungry and wanting to talk, I know that this is the end of my working day. When he is away l'll often work late into the evening, then I get tired and hungry and start making mistakes.

Best creative memory?

I often travel to India to work with weavers and textile artisans to create my scarves and when my first delivery of scarves arrived from India I was so excited I couldn't even wait to take the boxes inside to open them. I stood on my verandah tearing open the boxes. The smell of the natural freshly woven silk and cotton, the vision of hundreds of colourful tassels and the feel of the natural fabric against my skin was overwhelmingly euphoric.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to break into the industry you are in?

LOVE WHAT YOU DO! If you love what you do you will find a way to make it happen.

Find your tribe - the people/customers that understand, appreciate and also love what you do.

Have a little chuckle to yourself if anyone ever says “ I can do that, it's easy”. They probably won’t!

Find the people that give you energy, support, belief in yourself and love and surround yourself with them.

Website www.violethartley.com

Instagram www.instagram.com/violethartley

Meet Cindee Smith, owner and creative behind VIOLET HARTLEY