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Jan Ditchfield

Fabric Painter

I emigrated to Australia from the UK in 1979 with no previous history, interest or experience with art. Immediately I was struck by the light and colours compared with England.   I became a fabric painter/colourist  by pure chance.  Whilst walking past a tiny gallery in a seaside suburb of Adelaide I saw a beautiful dress in the window, I coveted it immediately, soft greens and turquoise like the sea, beautiful material, flattering style, just my colours – I knew it was for me.  I went in  but (of course as usual) it was too small. I asked if by chance I could order one in my size, the answer regretfully was NO, it was handpainted fabric and a "one-off". I have to admit then that I didn't really know what she meant.   Seeing my obviously crestfallen face the lady said to me... "however I can teach you to paint your own fabric so you can make your own dress!" - I was hooked from them on. Fay was an enthusiast and a most encouraging teacher. With Fay at my elbow I even painted a silk picture (but I could never repeat it, it all happened so fast there was no time to take notes). I started in the summer in the garden with cotton stretched between two tables under the patio.  I had numerous dresses, aprons, table napkins – anything was an excuse to get making colours.  At that stage I was using heat fix Pebeo Setacolour.  When winter arrived I took over the spare bedroom, tarpaulins on the floor, covers for the bed, the bottles on the dressing table. .When we moved to our present home in the Adelaide Hills Jim built me an enormous studio all for myself    I now use Pebeo Soie both for silk and wool and Jim has built me a vertical steamer to take the wide fabric.

I graduated to silk, more exciting and possibly saleable (as I was painting far more than I could possibly use).  In those days Adelaide was knee deep in silk painters, all far better than me – they were real artists – not some secretary with a fondness for colour.  I tried various craft shops without much success  but still didn't stop.  Then I had a stroke of luck. In my early silk painting days  I had met a lady who ran a restaurant and she tried to sell my work too but the place closed and she disappeared.  Then out of the blue I had a phone call from her.  She told me she was manageress of the most expensive tourist shop in Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) and thought she could sell my work.  She was right.  Sandra gave me enough confidence to approach other tourist places and so for ten years or so I painted silk scarves and sold them to upmarket tourist shops, resorts and hotels all over Australia.  This was all part-time, fitted in between a full-time job.

I had to learn to sell and to run a business, which I picked up the hard way - by myself!  For instance when I started I had no idea I would be able to buy materials 'wholesale' – such was my ignorance.  I have managed to master the GST, discounts, claiming against tax, expense accounts etc.   My English relatives were all rather negative – don't you think you are too old, you have no training, you will have to do accounts, what if you fail…..  One of the wonderful things about Australia is the positive thinking – 'great have a go' and if you fail – 'well bad luck, what are you going to try next?

I took my silk to the Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock and also sold my scarves to the Government, both State and Federal, and others as gifts for overseas travellers or visitors.  It was a chance remark in Canberra "its a pity you don't have an all-Australian product" that set me off onto the present track. 

Locating wool fine enough to paint on with a suitable finish was difficult, even in Australia,  but eventually I discovered some and started selling Australian wool scarves to Australians - more difficult than silk!   I had not been a scarf person, but of course selling scarves oneself had to change all that and I learned as I went along, picking up tips from all over the place and I saw how relaxed and unfussy the Europeans are about wearing scarves and wraps.  They just pick up a wool scarf and fling it around in "Brave Heart" fashion and off they go - no prissing around.  Silk of course is slippery and is mainly for the perfection dresser but the wool is magic.  I doesn't slide around into your coffee and doesn't need constant ironing.  Being so very light it can be worn anywhere one would wear silk.

I made a shirt to promote myself, someone asked me to paint one for them and the shirt side of the business was up and running.  I now have the most wonderful professional making my shirts for  me.

With the change of direction to mainly wool I changed marketing direction too.   Over the years I have become tired of waiting and hassling for my money, tired of being told my scarves are too expensive (of course nothing to do with the 100-150% markup that many retail outlets add). The lack of interest in most salespeople as to the individuality or quality of the item has been another disappointment.  I have now given up retailing and I sell direct from the studio, by mail and I travel to agricultural field days, craft shows and such events trying to promote Australia's great (and forgotten) fabric.   There one can talk to people and interest them in the product and they in turn feel they have bought something with a background.   I have several customers with more than one shirt – they come back each year for another colour – what more praise could one have.  One advantage in being a small business is that one can cater for small orders or personalised items. The shirts come in standard sizes, but can be made to order in any size and almost any colour you can dream up.  Each piece is painted individually so the amount of material and colour will be different for each customer.  People can buy a wool length and sew up their own garment.

I have on three occasions (2004 last) brought my work over to the West End Craft Fair associated with the Edinburgh Festival and had a great response to the fabric and colours

Jim and I often go 'bush' and the outback colours of Australia are a constant inspiration.  It must have taken the move from soft pastel Europe to vibrant Australia to give birth to my love of colour and hence the whole fabric painting business.  I am now retired but not stopped!, gadding about even more around Australia, meeting fantastic people and having a great time.  Thank you Fay Kijas my first teacher for everything, you had no idea what you started.

If you wish to see more look up 'Ditchfield Designs Australia' on the web and if anyone visits Adelaide in South Australia give me a ring and come up and see it all.

 http://www.bpthursby.com.au/ditchfielddesigns/

Telephone - 61-8-82781614