46 Comments
User's avatar
Emily Foucart's avatar

This warmed my heart. 💖Lovely friendship story and awesome collages, the two of you 🖤

Duane Toops's avatar

That’s me really happy Emily! Thank you so much! @Jill McDougall really is a amazing friend and person.

Jill McDougall's avatar

Thank you Emily!

Andrea Fisher's avatar

I love what you wrote Duane and Jill's words too. What a special post!

Jill McDougall's avatar

Thank you Andrea! Appreciate you!!

Duane Toops's avatar

This was really special. Thanks so much for reading Andrea!

Erica A. Wheadon's avatar

Okay, wow. I loved (and needed everything about this). Thank you. I'm not a collage-maker but this makes me want to be. xx

Duane Toops's avatar

I know exactly what you mean Erica. @Jill McDougall nailed it completely. I really needed every bit of too. Please , please, please become a collage maker! DM me your mailing address and put together some materials to help get you started!

Jill McDougall's avatar

I had a feeling you'd expand on the excitement here! 😁

Duane Toops's avatar

Of course!!

Jill McDougall's avatar

I love hearing that this all resonates with you, Erica. I'm so glad.

And yes to you becoming a collage maker!!

Color & Conversation's avatar

What a beautiful takeover! Duane, please take the time (some of my favs are long walks after dark, milk punch, Turkey and The Wolf, the energy of all the artists) to enjoy New Orleans and Kolaj Fest — Ric, Chris and the team put on a creative festival like no other!

Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you! @Jill McDougall did such a tremendous job and I had an amazing trip! I’m still riding teh creative high of it and I’m not ready to come down yet. Thanks again!

Invisible's avatar

Thank you for talking about grace. You two are so wise to be so young. You always add much to my thoughts about life. ☺️

Jill McDougall's avatar

You are so kind, and so very supportive. Thank you for being here with us. :)

Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you Martha! As soon as @Jill McDougall read me what she was working on I knew it had to be shared with everyone, because I also knew it was something that I really needed to hear. Thanks holding space with us. I love you with all my everything.

Jill McDougall's avatar

It's something we just keep reminding ourselves of. Acceptance and grace!

Duane Toops's avatar

It's can't be said enough. We reminders without end.

Joyce's avatar

True friendship is unconditional, it doesn’t demand, it freely gives. You hold space for the other, sit with them in the darkness, support them. But if not, it was merely transactional.

We’ve worked together before, Duane, and I know you are a wonderful artist producing beautiful collages and texts.

I have not been doing much and I’m not often on Substack apart from GM messages, but I haven’t forgotten you!

Duane Toops's avatar

Hi Joyce! It’s so great to hear from you!! A good friend is one best gifts a person could ever be given. There’s just nothing like it! Thank you so much reading and for sharing your thoughts. Maybe we can collaborate again one day.

Joyce's avatar

I’d like that very much, Duane.

Duane Toops's avatar

Let me know whenever you’d like to do it and I’ll send you a collage to work with!

Joyce's avatar

Thanks Duane!

Charity Whan's avatar

We really were all thinking about the same things this past week! Jill, I think you’ll find my upcoming Tuesday poem has some overlap here. Absolutely beautiful thoughts, and a wonderful friendship.

And yes, I’ve told him the same thing about taking a break from time to time, haha. Appalled is the closest word for his response.

Jill McDougall's avatar

I had a feeling you'd probably received a similar response from him somewhere along the line! ;) I'm also excited to read your Tuesday poem. And so glad to get to know you. Duane has a way of bringing people together that I'm so grateful for!

Duane Toops's avatar

i can’t tell whether I’m being “seen” or “called out” or some combination of the two, hahaha!

Charity Whan's avatar

That he does, doesn’t he?

Duane Toops's avatar

Oh I’m excited for Tuesday! I’ve mentioned this to you before, but I think it’s worth repeating. The word “charity” is derived from Greek work “Charis” the goddess of beauty, charm, and creativity. She was amongst a group of goddesses known as “The Charities” or perhaps more aptly translated “The Graces”, because the most common translation of the word Charis is “grace”. I’ve witnessed first hand that you are aptly named.

Even the though suggestion of taking a break might be the most vulgar and profane thing you’ve ever said to me. Haha!

Charity Whan's avatar

Well crap. Thank you, thank you for all of that. 🙏😌

Duane Toops's avatar

Of course. I call it like I see it, and from what I can see it’s all true. <3 <3

Vanessa's avatar

This is such a beautiful and powerful collaboration - thank you 🙏- what a wonderful idea; to work with a friends work and see how it changes the work you would produce otherwise - bravo 👏

Jill McDougall's avatar

Thanks Vanessa!! I'm so glad you find this as fascinating as I do. I never would have used the photos in the same way Duane did, and it gave me a moment of "ah!" when I saw what he did. Art is powerful; collaborating in art even more so!

Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you Vanessa! This was such a wonder experience and I’m just so grateful to @Jill McDougall for all of it! Thanks so much for reading!

Jill McDougall's avatar

So grateful for you, bestie.

Duane Toops's avatar

Right back at you obviously!

Danielle D's avatar

This is beautiful. ✨🤍✨

Jill McDougall's avatar

Thanks Danielle! A joy to get to collaborate with Duane!

Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much Danielle! @Jill McDougall did such a great job on this! It’s always a joy to collaborate with her!

Bjorn Edling's avatar

Wonderful, all of it.

Jill McDougall's avatar

Thanks so much, Bjorn!

Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you! @Jill McDougall is a wonderfully kind and insightful person and I’m happy we got to do this and share it with you!

Michael J Gillette's avatar

Brilliant words. Magnificent art. And now my world looks a little brighter because of it. Just love every ounce of all of it.

Duane Toops's avatar

You and Jill keeping my world so well lit. The darkness doesn’t stand a chance. Thanks for everything you do!

George Slade's avatar

"magical incantations" - yes!