Background

In my style development work, I developed a transcultural layering process where I combined multiple layers of images (both found and painted) that are relevant to my lived experiences to form an overall painting. Thus far, my process has been:

1. Creating digital collages of found images (manipulated and processed using Adobe Express).

2. Inkjet printing the digital collage onto paper (A1 size used so far).

3. Using dispersion liquid to transfer from the printed A1 poster onto a fabric canvas (I have experimented with satin and woven cotton canvas).

4. Painting on top of the imprinted fabric canvas.

All the layered images, printed or painted, are related to my lived experience as a transcultural person. Hence I called this part of my practice Transcultural Layering.

The process described here has been developed in my home studio where the facilities are limited. Hence dispersion liquid is used because it is a process that I can manage myself. The disadvantage of using dispersion liquid is that it changes the material canvas, creating a layer like dried PVA glue. This is useable with the more robust paint media such as acrylic or oil. However, for more delicate media such as Chinese ink brush painting on satin, the lack of absorbency of the glue-like canvas means the brush strokes do not work as intended. To overcome this, I had to do the Chinese brush painting first then transfer the image onto the reverse side of the satin canvas. This makes the process unnecessarily complicated and I was unable to fulfil my desire to paint the top layer in response to the printed base image.

Project description

I want to investigate what facilities are available at CSM to solve my challenge of digital printing on canvas. Once I have established what’s available, I will visit campus to do some experiments and assess the outcomes to build a catalogue of processes, techniques and materials that I can choose from for future work.

Part 1 – Investigate digital printing facilities at CSM

Experiencing – What I did

To solve my challenge to print on canvas, I want to make use of the facilities and expertise available at CSM to help me explore better ways to do the digital image transfer onto canvas. Also to explore other canvas materials. To this end, I emailed the digital printing lab to ask what facilities are available that are accessible for me and I was absolutely delighted to receive the following info.

“We have a UV printer that can print onto pretty much anything including fabric, max printable area is 77x33cm. You could tile an image onto a larger piece of fabric if you are not worried about the alignment of the tiles being perfect, ie an overlap or gap.

We also have a large format solvent printer that can print onto canvas up to about 450gsm. We stock a polycotton canvas (printable widths of 1.3m and .85m) and people have printed on their own coated and uncoated canvas. With uncoated canvas the ink tends to bleed into the fabric giving a blurred image.
Both of the above use solvent inks that have a sheen to them in dark colours they are not a matt finish.

We also have an archival inkjet canvas printable width 1.1m, matt finish.
All of them should be ok with acrylic or oil paint, ink might only work on the inkjet.”

Further info pricing, file formats etc can be accessed from the moodle link below

Course: CSM Technical Moodle, Section: Digital Print (arts.ac.uk)

Digital Print Location: B301

Opening hours

• Digital Print
  Mon to Thurs: 10:30 – 12:30 | 14:00 – 17:00 Fri: 10:30 – 13:00
• Riso
  Tue & Thu: 10:30 – 12:30 only

Reflecting – How I feel

I am so thrilled! The reply was beyond my expectation. Not only is my challenge solved, I have many options to choose from! The experience also reassured me of how easy it is to ask for help at CSM – this is important for me because I am new to the university and am still trying to find my way around. I have since researched into other facilities at CSM and I want to make the most of my access to them for my practice.

Thinking – What I learned

Be optimistic, the outcome is often better than expected and never hesitate to ask.

Also, I feel very privileged to have access to all the facilities and I am keen to not waste the opportunities like I would have done in my younger student days!

Acting – What to do next

In order to build a catalogue of canvas printing options, I will do one or more prints from each of the different printers and then assess the outcomes to determine their suitability for the kind of work that I make.

As for making use of the other facilities, I don’t have a plan yet but will open my mind when planning my work to include the facilities available in my thinking.

Part 2 – Printing experiments at CSM

Plan – Print trials to do

Obtain prices then arrange for the following prints:

1. UV Printer (max size 77x33cm)

– 1 x A3 cotton canvas

– 1 x A3 silk canvas

2. Large format solvent printer

– 1 x A3 cotton canvas

– 1 x A3 silk canvas

3. Inkjet printer

– 1 x A3 cotton canvas

– 1 x A3 silk canvas

All printers and canvases to print the same image in order to compare the outcomes.

I have decided to research and compile a new image of digital collage. I will use Adobe Express for this work.