20 Comments
User's avatar
Martin Hughes's avatar

I fell into these and floated through them in safety. Beautiful.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much for that description, that, in itself, is beautiful!

Expand full comment
Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

Was talking about Nick Cave with friends only yesterday. His quote got me... very poetic. I have a question, here, how do you mix the AI in your work? I read about it a few posts ago but still don't get it.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Nick Cave continues to be my Soul doctor, lol. My AI usage is pretty rudimentary really. I put various prompts into Midjourney and I print out the images I think are interesting. From there I'm just working with paper as usual. I cut up the printed out AI images and make analog collages with them. that's pretty much it, in essence.

Expand full comment
Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

Oh I see. Ok I got it now. Do you prefer that or getting images from clippings and magazines? What's the idea behind the AI use? Nick Cave is a great soul doctor. Love listening to him talk on the various interviews I find on youtube of him.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

All of the collages I've made using printed out AI images still contain things I've found and retrieved from photo books and magazines. I think that will always be a part of my process and practice. I suppose the main idea behind dabbling in some Ai image generation is simple creative curiosity. To see what it can do. To see how it can be utilized. To see what I can do with it. To see how it influences the work. I think the number one job of an artist is to be curious. I'm just exploring. But, I've also been dabbling with creating more of my own source material; creating digital collage paper to be printed, printing out my own photography, creating things for my work that are unique to me. With that being said, I do appreciate the level of autonomy AI affords me in creating images while also providing me with plenty of room for surprises and discovery. I don't know if it will be a long term part of my process, but I'm enjoying the experimentation at the moment.

Expand full comment
Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

Curiosity is the key to learning and finding in anything you do. A conductor of knowledge. You seek you find. Thank you again for explaining. Been meaning to ask but didn’t know how to ask. Hahaha!

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Any time!

Expand full comment
Brian Funke's avatar

Thoughts flying jagged 👏 👏

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you Brian! So glad you like that one!

Expand full comment
Stella Kalaw's avatar

Love the Nick Cave quote, Duane! I shall write that down in my journal. As always, wonderful collages and thoughtful reflections.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Nick Cave is one of my Soul Doctors. He just gets it, always.

Expand full comment
Stella Kalaw's avatar

“Soul doctor” that I will write down as well

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

In what feels like another life, I had a podcast. One of the best interviews I ever got to conduct for it was with a thinker and writer I admire named Eric G. Wilson, I stole that phrase from him.

Expand full comment
Ann Collins's avatar

Sharing strength can be a beautiful way to live and grow.

“Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.”

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Exactly this! thank you so much for this!

Expand full comment
E. Edwin Jones's avatar

Well said; beautifully illustrated.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much! I appreciate it!

Expand full comment
Patris's avatar

These shift so beautifully within themselves.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Much appreciated!

Expand full comment