20 Comments
User's avatar
Jason McBride's avatar

These are incredible pieces, Duane! I'm so sad to hear about the closing of 46pgs. It's a cool publication.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Much appreciated! It's disheartening for sure. I wish I had discovered it sooner, but I'm grateful that I got to be a part of it for a little bit at least in a small way.

Expand full comment
JS Hyder's avatar

Congratulations and some really lovely work.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Much appreciated! The funny thing is, I think the promo art I made is actually better than the pieces that'll be featured in the magazine 🤣

Expand full comment
JS Hyder's avatar

Ha, but is that just the bane of the artist preferring one thing over the other? Am sure they are just as good :)

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

You're not wrong, lol. It's some of my earlier work, most which came from things I made when I started the Collage Paper Playlist. I think I've progressed since then, but it's cool that the work has a life beyond the newsletter.

Expand full comment
Mark Luetke's avatar

Congrats on the feature! A worthy addition for sure 🙌

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much! It's humbling to be included amongst such an amazing group of artists and designers. I'm doing my best to keep the imposter syndrome in check. lol

Expand full comment
Nolan Green's avatar

46 reminds me of some of those beautiful Emigre designs. Great work.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

I take that as an extremely high compliment! Thank you so much!!

Expand full comment
Nolan Green's avatar

The highest of compliments. I really enjoy your creations.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

I've been combing through the Emigre Archives lately. I enever get tired of them. Glad it's having an affect. Thanks again! It really means a lot to me!

https://oa.letterformarchive.org/?dims=Firms&vals0=Emigre&friendly0=Emigre

Expand full comment
Nolan Green's avatar

I’ve been a fan since ‘93 when Rudy began including my music on his music samplers. Years later he included my album “Happily Ever After” a mix of demos/unreleased material, as part of the magazine.

https://www.emigre.com/BooksCds/HappilyEverAfter

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

That's awesome! Thanks ka so much for sharing! Looking forward to checking this out! Great cover design!

Expand full comment
Lisa Kahn Schnell's avatar

I love that one with the couple dancing! 🩷🩷🩷

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you! It's my favorite! It's one of those pieces that take you by surprise, that comes turns out better than you ever thought it could, that makes you wonder if you'll ever make something that good again 🤣

Expand full comment
Lisa Kahn Schnell's avatar

Yes, totally! That feeling is what makes me keep going.

Are you able to articulate at all what it is about this one that you like so much?

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

It definitely is!

I've been asking myself that same question in regards to this piece. That's always a challenge, isn't it? Putting into words something you feel viscerally. But also, that's part of what makes the practice so contemplative. Looking closely at the piece. Looking closely at yourself. At the intermingling places in between.

What I've been able to come up with so far is an affinity for the materials. The vintage papers. The age and wear. The warm and muted color palette that it elicits. The gentle distress. The mixture of typefaces, varying in size and weight. There's more to it than that. i just can't quite put my finger on it yet.

Expand full comment
Lisa Kahn Schnell's avatar

That affinity for the materials makes so much sense (as does all the rest!). I think part of it for me, visually, is that there are a lot of contrasts--organic and angular, sharp and fuzzy, interesting negative and positive spaces, etc. AND that they seem to overlap and interact with each other in ways that make me want to look again, and look more closely. I'm sure there's more to it than that, too. As always, keep going! : )

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Yes! So glad you brought up the irregular negative and positive space. I've been trying to introduce more negative space into my work. I've been making an effort to be a bit more minimal. And I inadvertently stumbled upon an intriguing arrangement of that here. Now I'm trying to figure out how to do it again, without being formulaic. LOL

Expand full comment