21 Comments
User's avatar
Vanessa's avatar

I second all of this ! Thanks for putting it in plain sight (:

Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you Vanessa! I appreciate it!!

Martin Hughes's avatar

Not to brag, but most people I meet say I'm very iterating. They say something like that anyway...

Duane Toops's avatar

yet another reason you’re inspiration to me! haha!

Martin Hughes's avatar

😁💚

Joel Lambeth's avatar

Thank you Duane. Incredibly timely post. Once again you seem to write exactly what I need to read.

Duane Toops's avatar

Joel!! Thank you my friend! Means the world to me that it means something to you! Thanks again brother!

Margaret Ann Silver's avatar

Whew. This is excellent.

Duane Toops's avatar

So glad you like it!! Thank you!!

Lisa Jensen's avatar

I don’t know what I find more gorgeous - the way you think or the words you weave from your thoughts! This post makes me think of the mini essays in David Whyte’s “Consolations,” a book I absolutely adore. I’m going to go very enthusiastically hit the subscribe button now.

Duane Toops's avatar

Lisa, this is just so kind! I wish I could turn this comment into a pillow fort and hide in it! David Whyte is amazing! I listened to him being interviewed a while ago and it was so good. I haven’t delved into any of his books yet though. Is Consolations the best one to start with?

Lisa Jensen's avatar

I mean, if you want to cross-stitch my comment (or any other Substack praise) onto pillows and cocoon in them, I will be the last person to judge you for it! Writing is hard and vulnerable work. We should all be kind to ourselves, ideally each in our own weird way.

I think Consolations is the perfect book to start with!

Duane Toops's avatar

Haha! Oh what an outstanding reply Lisa! It almost makes me wish I knew how to cross-stitch. Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll be sure to add consolations to my list!

Manuela Thames's avatar

These collages really stand out to me. I might have to purchase some more for our walls. I love them!

Duane Toops's avatar

The more the merrier haha! Thanks so much!

Dean Wilder's avatar

Yes! Thank you for this Duane. I needed it and reread a few times.

Duane Toops's avatar

So glad this landed for you Dean! thanks so much for reading!!

Jill McDougall's avatar

So good! Love the part about our work being connected to the past and the future. I've been sinking into the process of totally accepting iterating. It's all just part of a long, drawn together process. And as always, beautiful collages. :)

Duane Toops's avatar

Yes! In a way the work should always be liminal. Always perched on the threshold between teh not-yet and the already. It’s a kind pragmatic provisionality. A piece is good in so far as it helps you get to the next iteration. Thanks bestie! You’re awesome!

CarrieD's avatar

The breaking out of enchantment caught my eye. The blurred images overlayed with such crisp clips, gives a perfect pairing to your words. Precisely written, as always❣️

Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks Carrie!! I love that you bring up that piece! It felt like such an intriguing discover to me, seeing the starkness between soft blur and rigid geometry. Could have never see it coming! Thanks again!