Member Spotlight - Denzel

​Since our move we've had the pleasure to meet many new students and members that have quickly become a part of the GPL family. As many of you may or may not know we offer a 6 week screen printing course, in which students meet once a week for 3 hour sessions to learn anything screen printing related. From the beginning stages of how to create a screen, photoshop basics and multi color prints both on paper and apparel. While enrolled in this course students have access to the studio during open hours, which is how we met Denzel. While taking the 6 week course he used the time given to work on his own personal pieces. Shortly after he became a member at GPL and the rest is history... 

Q1./Lets start off by telling our readers a little bit about yourself .
A1./Hello, beautiful people on the interweb! My name is Denzel. Look me up on  Instagram: @DinnerZealous ( pero, por favor...call me Dee).
    I'm an̶ a̶r̶t̶i̶s̶t̶ creative polymath, based out of NYC. I call myself that because I take great pride in having my hands (almost literally) in different mediums. Being a renaissance man/woman is today's norm. I fit right in, kinda.

Q2./How did you come to arrive at GPL? 
A2./I arrived at the GPL, "officially", summer 2018.
( I only say "officially" because I may or may not have attempted to work [there] a few years ago (Ssssshhhhh! This fact may or may not have been forgotten..heehee.)
    Within recent years though, I've been gearing up to expand my custom garment portfolio and haven't found a better facility to do so at, other than the GPL. It's such a  lax, laid back atmosphere. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND anyone, at any level, check it out and getcha hands dirty.
  
Q3./I would love to tell the readers a little bit about your process, how did you get started with screen printing?
A3./Having a very strong art background, I naturally transitioned into custom garment designing (from regular 2-D and graphic designing) over the years.
I was one of those kids scribbling "designs", marking up, and drawing on their clothes...and actually wearing it as a fashion statement in middle school.
    I've ALWAYS been known as the class artist. Through my grade-school years, the perspective of my own talent began to morph when "YOooOoOoo!...I would rock that if it was on a T-shirt!" became a reoccurring compliment.
After H.S up to now as of writing this, I've worked in various print/garment production facilities. All ranging in size and specialized services. The first "real" screen print job I worked at put me in a position where I can actually say I did set-ups/samples for division 1 colleges, 'big brand name' phone companies,  and other large businesses.
(I printed my 1st ever garment at home before I was ever hired at an actual facility though *does dance*.)

Q4./What are some recents project you are working on?
A4./ Recently I just started tweaking some shelved/old designs I had laying around. But as for serious projects I had an old classmate of mine ask me to help create a logo for his fitness brand. Together we came up with a sick design that I'm very proud to say I helped bring into fruition. We're still working on the garment aspects. This is my first legit ground-up project with tremendous potential! (Thank you GPL!)

Q.5/How has your experience been at GPL?
A.5/AWESOME! I love how helpful the staff is. They have superbbb energy and expertise 👌! 0 COMPLAINTS... I honestly see the lab continuing to grow like crazyyy. They know what they're doing!💪  

Q6./Lastly, What is some advise you would give to someone wanting to start screen printing?
A6./ I would tell anyone who wants to start screen printing the following:
1.) -Know EXACTLY why it is that you want to learn...
Do you want to add another craft to your palette because you're a chill-creative-polymath-artsy-hipster-dudette/dude?
Do you want to open your own shop because you're mechanically inclined, love art & business?
Do you want to be a fashion designer because you're chic like that?
Everyone's "Why?" will be different.
2.) - REMEMBER "Patience is a virtue." The learning curve with screen printing is enormous. There's so much overall testing, plus trial and error within the field. There's also new equipment, new techniques, new shortcuts coming out online like every 3 seconds.
Research. Assess. Apply.
3.) -IF YOU ARE REALLY ABOUT THAT PRINT LIFE..LONG TERM.LIKE FOR REALZ. Invest in approximately 100,000 diposable pairs of gloves and get a paint suit.
You'll be happy.
And clean.
Go get active! 
✌

Be sure to check out his work @​DinnerZealous

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