Pauline Caulfield

Textile printer

©KANGAN ARORA

Freedom in coloured textiles

Pauline is a textile print artist
She made her first collection in 1968
Her work is bespoke textile print commissions

Pauline Caulfield began as a painting student at Chelsea School of Art, where printing textiles was part of her course. She started to feel unsure about her painting and found more freedom to be bold and to use strong colours in the textile department. Pauline went on to the Royal College of Art to specialise in textile printing. Her diploma show in 1968 was a series of large screen printed panels in colourful graphic patterns, which she recently reproduced for the 50th anniversary of the show. After half a century, the artisan still looks for the play of light and volume in printed fabrics. Pauline’s interest is colour, pattern and texture, in the pursuit of illusion. Her technique of silk screen printing requires geometry, planning and two assistants to create her bespoke printed textiles with the three-metre-long screens in her London studio.

Interview

©KANGAN ARORA

Why did you decide to go to art school?: Both my parents had been to art school. My mother designed book jackets and my father was an architect. The other day I found a piece of paper from my childhood, where I had written a big letter "A" next to the smaller words: -rtist, -uthor, -ctress. It was always in my mind to do something creative.
How do you find working as a textile artist?: My idea of an artist is a bit grand, so it is a frightening word for me. I very much enjoy what I am doing and consider it to be somewhere between artist and artisan. I feel very lucky that I still have creative ideas.
How did you choose textile printing over painting?: Although I sometimes use more hands-on methods, I love the transforming magic that occurs when printing onto fabric. At the moment, I have a work on display in an exhibition with other artists who are painters. My exhibit is printed fabric rather than a painted canvas so I am having the best of both worlds.
What does well made mean for you?: Nothing printed is ever perfect but it is important to me that the overall impact is as I intended. Getting the colour right is particularly crucial. If it does not work, I have to do it again.

Pauline Caulfield is an expert artisan she began her career in 1968