Master Printer | Delon George | Rockella Space

MEMBER FEATURE:

DELON GEORGE, Master Printer

Our monthly Member Feature aims to showcase the talent that occupies our buildings and celebrate their work.

This month, we interviewed Rockella Space Member Delon George, founder of Quick Strike Printing, at Brown Bears Studios.

Delon brings a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern expertise to create custom-printed apparel for clients ranging from small businesses to large-scale corporations. Dive into our interview below to discover the innovative screen-printing techniques Delon employs at Quick Strike Printing and learn how Rockella Space became his creative headquarters.

To learn more about the creatives who call Rockella Space home, head over to the People page for a full list of in-depth interviews.

Who are you and what do you do?

 

My name is Delon George, born and raised in the Caribbean country of Grenada. As a classically trained fine artist, graphic designer, and screen printer, I bring a diverse set of creative skills to my work. I am the founder of QuickStrike PrintShop, based at Brown Bears Studios, where we specialize in logos, branding, apparel design, and high-quality screen printing.

How long have you been at Rockella Space and what is your favorite thing about having a studio at One Eyed Studios?

 

I have been a resident at Brown Bears since July of 2019. I love how close I am to my home and the fact that a working space like this is available to many professionals in this rural Brooklyn neighborhood.

Tell us about your work. What inspires you to create the work that you do?

 

My work is in production and development for many clients, ranging from small businesses to major corporations. Quite often I am inspired by and even model alot of my work based on films/tv shows I like and I like to have an element of humor included.

Can you walk us through the process of hand-printing with plastisol inks, and what makes it such a popular choice for vibrant designs on darker fabrics?

 

Plastisol inks are the standard go to inks for screen printing. Because of how opaque the inks are, they are optimal for darker fabrics.

Water-based inks are known for their softer feel on garments. How does hand-printing with water-based inks differ from working with plastisol, both in technique and outcome?

 

Waterbased inks produce beautiful prints. But working with them is very different from plastisol ink. As opposed to plastisol that requires 230-330 degrees of heat to dry, water based inks, (due to its make up being of water, ergo the name lol) can dry in the air while on press. So working with water based inks you have to work faster so that it does not dry out on the screen causing the stencil to be clogged. Also, with waterbased inks its advantageous to use a larger amounts as well so that it says wet longer.

Discharge printing is a unique process that replaces fabric dyes with ink. What are some of the key challenges in achieving consistent results with discharge printing by hand?

 

Discharge ink is a waterbased ink but the base is different in that is its specially formulated so that when mixed with the discharge agent it can activate in the curing process of printing. The biggest challenge with discharge printing is the type of garments you use. You ,must use organic fabrics only in order to achieve a thorough discharge prints. Synthetic fibers like polyester will not react correctly, resulting in a discolored print.

The 3D Puff print technique gives a raised, textured effect. How do you ensure precision and detail when hand-printing this type of design, and what garments work best with this method?

 

With puff ink the key is consistency. You must ensure you mix in the amount of proper puff addictive into the plastisol inks and the temperature along with you conveyor belt speed of the dryer must be just right in order for the puff raise to be uniformed on each garment.

What role does craftsmanship play in maintaining the quality and uniqueness of hand-printed designs at Quick Strike Print Shop?

 

Craftsmanship is everything. As an artist, my medium now is garments, so the items that are produced simply aren’t merch but a work of art that can be worn proudly by the client or the client’s clientele. Being both a designer and printer gives me the perspective of both ends of the apparel-making process, so I can be more intentional with the prints and even offer consultation to my clients.

How do you decide which printing technique (plastisol, water-based, discharge, or 3D Puff) works best for each project, and what factors come into play when making this choice?

 

The ink types are specifications that the clients normally would request or have called out on the techpacks. I can always suggest and recommend based on my professional experience as a designer but its ultimately the clients choice.

Hand-printing often requires a lot of attention to detail. How do you manage consistency across larger orders, especially when using more complex techniques like discharge or 3D Puff?

 

By doing alot of test prints and sampling before going into full production.

Quick Strike Print Shop offers a range of printing techniques. How do you educate clients on the benefits of each ink type to ensure they choose the best fit for their designs?

 

I ask a lot of questions. Getting to know what the clients are looking to create aesthetically gives me a better idea of what I can recommend and advise. There are even times when I recommend that clients not use screenprinting at all.

As a Brooklyn-based print shop, how does the local creative community influence the types of projects you take on, and what role does hand-printing play in making those projects unique?

 

The creative community in itself doesnt necessarily influence the projects I work on/with. What really influences them are my network and really the fact that in brooklyn everyone knows everyone. So one project almost always branches off into another due to recommendation and/or the similarities in the nature of each project.

If you were to invite anyone alive or dead to a dinner party, who would be on your guest list?

 

British R & B Singer/Songwriter Cleo Sol.

What advice would you give to aspiring creative, particularly those wanting to move to NYC, who are looking to pursue a career in the creative printing world?

 

For one, I would not advise moving to NYC to pursue printing lol, simply because the overhead is a lot. The equipment and supplies are expensive, couple that with NYC living it isnt the best idea, if you are someone who is from another state/country. Now if you are a native New Yorker, and you would like to pursue this, my advice is to jump in head first. Be very hands on so you can get used to printing feel. Screen printing is best learned in application.

What projects have you got coming up?

 

A few concert tour merch and brand collections are on the horizon.

Where can people see your work in IRL or online, and how can people contact you for a studio visit?

 

Instagram: @qsprintshop

Website: www.qsprintshop.com

Online design portfolio: https://jorgesanchez.myportfolio.com/