39 Comments
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Martin Hughes's avatar

"the paradox of self-awareness" didn't load in my email, so it was just a white space. It made me laugh as if that was the collage! Given the subject of your writing, everything took on a whole new meaning and it's like one simple loading error was always meant to be. Happy to see your actual collage upon clicking through too, for sure. 💚

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Duane Toops's avatar

haha! Love that! Almost makes wish I had done that intentionally!

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Dan Jandl's avatar

Excellent, Duane!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Much appreciated Dan!

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Cyeece's avatar

Gah! I love all of your work always!!!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Cyeece! You’re awesome! that means a lot to me!

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Cyeece's avatar

Right back atcha Duane!

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Robert Labossiere's avatar

Somewhere recently I heard or read someone say that to be an artist you must be addicted to practice. It's the only way you will find out if you're any good. Does this sound at all familiar? I'd like to find the quote

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks Robert! I love this! I’m not familiar with the quote , but I completely agree with it! For me, teh practice is always always always more important than the product. I’m not as interested in nouns as much as I’m interested in verbs. I’m not so much interested in making good things, but being good at making things. If you find the quote let me know, I’d love to save it!

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Bonefolder Press's avatar

Yes! Say it louder for those in the back

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Duane Toops's avatar

Hell yeah! Somebody gimme that megaphone! let’s get a ruckus happening!

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Vanessa's avatar

This is simply wonderful

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much Vanessa! I’m really happy you like it!

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Five Spice's avatar

Very inspiring work. Are these digital, analog or hybrid collages?

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much! They’re all analog, but I do take a bit of a hybrid approach in creating some of my source material. I’ll manipulate and design things digitally, I’ll print them out, cut them up, combine them with other materials, and make collages. Hope that makes sense. Thanks again!

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Dan Jandl's avatar

I was wondering about this too. Very cool!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Glad you enjoyed it!

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Sunshine's avatar

The distinction between “making a living” and “living to make” is something many miss, especially when the world tries to put a price tag on what truly moves us. Art, or any calling, isn’t just about sales or status, it’s about that fire inside that won’t die no matter what. Here’s to honoring that relentless flame.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Absolutely! It's such a subtle shift in perspective and perception, it's not only difficult to do, but also difficult to maintain. It took me such a long time to figure it, even longer to find some peace and acceptance in it, and it's still a daily, ongoing practice to stay there. "the relentless flame" - YES!

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Emily Foucart's avatar

Beautifully said, and love these new compositions you come up with these days!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you Emily! So glad you like them! I’m enjoying working at this slightly larger scale.

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Sonia Otero's avatar

It's not really a way for me to make a living, so I like the definition of it being an act of liberation.

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Duane Toops's avatar

I know exactly what you mean! I love the thought of it being a kind of rebellion!

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Zelda Zinn's avatar

Very inspiring post! Just what I needed today! Thanks, Duane!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Zelda!! It always so great to hear from you!! I hope you’re well! Thanks so much for reading, it means a lot to me. Miss you!

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you! I have been thinking a lot about this is the last few days.

Truer words have never been spoken.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you Manuela! So glad to hear this has been on your mind as well. It’s always comforting to hear that I’m not the only one coming to grips with some of these ideas. It’s always encouraging to feel aligned with a community of inspiring people doing inspiring work like you! Much appreciated!

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Davin Trail-Risk's avatar

Love the subtlety of “the central question of being”

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Duane Toops's avatar

thanks Davin! I must have re-made and re-arranged that piece at least 4 times, and even when I finally committed to gluing it down I still wasn’t sure. i think it was the difference of such subtlety that threw me a bit. But there’s definitely something here I’d like to explore more. Thanks again!

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Danny Toops's avatar

Just a thought...ever considered setting some of your work to music?

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Duane Toops's avatar

I’ve done it a couple times on Instagram and I used to make collage playlists; collages inspired by songs collected into Spotify playlists, but I haven’t done either in a while.

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Anxious Frank's avatar

Fuck yeah!!!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Well said!!

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Tamsin Haggis's avatar

Exactly

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Duane Toops's avatar

Much appreciated!

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