I'm endlessly grateful for the generosity and openness you bring to this community. Every time I read your posts, I walk away with something new—some spark of insight or encouragement that stays with me. There's a gentle wisdom in the way you approach your work and answer questions, making even the most uncertain parts of the creative process feel a little less daunting.
Your honesty about not forcing a concept, and letting the work guide you, really speaks to me. It's comforting to know that even the most distinctive voices are shaped by accidents, experiments, and the willingness to lean into what feels uncertain or strange. That kind of permission is something a lot of us need: to let our curiosity lead, to embrace our own mistakes, and to trust that style is something that emerges with time and attention, not something you have to chase down.
Thank you for sharing your process so generously, and for building a space where curiosity and wonder feel not just welcome but celebrated. I too am grateful for this community.
I always love reading your replies, you give back warmth and openness and generosity by orders of magnitude.
The work is always giving us permission, always calling, always beckoning, always inviting us to lean in, to look closer, to change, to grow, to see differently, to become something new. The real task isn’t the making, it’s listening to what the work is already telling you.
"a space where curiosity and wonder feel not just welcome but celebrated." - Wow! Thank you so much for this! This moved me in a big way. This is what matters most to me. I love making things. I love writing and making collages, but the one thing I want to be a part of making more than anything else, is exactly that kind of space. If I get to do nothing other than this, that will be more than enough for me.
Love! I don’t do very much ripping on a regular basis, but I’m trying to incorporate it a bit more. What kind of circle cutter do you use, I have a couple, I use them often, but I’m not super happy with them.
Glad it’s not just me. I’m not sure I’ve hit the hundred mark with mine yet, but it’s always a question mark whenever i punch down the lever, always holding breath waiting to see what it’s going to do and what’s going to happen, haha.
Duane, as always, a beautifully considered and thoughtful post. I, for one, consider you to be an essential part of the community you reference, particularly your support on instagram and I’m very grateful for that. Your discussion here about letting the work ‘making you’ resonated because it’s something I try (and often fail!) to do too. For that reason commissions are out of the question for me because the moment I try to play to the room, it’s dead in the water.
Thank you for the scanner suggestion, I have one that I don’t make enough use of, so something for me to take away!
Trish! You are always a breath of fresh air to hear from! Thank you so much for your kind words! I haven't done very many commissions, they really are difficult for me too. i appreciate the challenge of it, but it's definitely not easy.
Oh, I think you're going to have so much fun with the scanner. It's my not-so-secret weapon, and it's so addictive, you have been warned, haha!
Oh my goodness ! So interesting to hear about your process. The idea of scanning analog pieces and then reprinting them to be later used in other works- just brilliant ! And your entire paragraph about style provides so many deep lessons. « A servant to wonder »…. This is my entire reason for being alive.
My scanner is one of my best friends, haha! Scanning and reprinting is something I stumbled onto so haphazardly and now it’s become such an integral process of my whole work flow. Gives me access to a whole host of options and possibilities in the ways I use and create source material.
“Wonder” is what gets me up in the morning…and coffee, which is itself a source of tremendous wonder, haha!
Another wonderful post. There's too many threads in there to start tugging on each one of them here in the comments, suffice to say that this is a timely reminder of why I do what I do, and that I should do it more! Thanks
The definition of style as "what happens when you embrace your weaknesses" is brilliant. Essentially weaknesses are not failures but clues that often lead you forward to surprising and stronger, more authentic work.
So perfectly put!! YES! Years ago I read an interview with a singer/songwriter named Willy Porter, he said that your crutch is your strength. The thing you think you're the worst at is the thing that makes you unique. I think there is so much truth to that, your specific ‘faults’ and ‘failings’ are the things make your work impossible to replicate.
Kevin!! So great hearing from you! Kirk is such an amazing artist and an incredible person! I owe him a debt of gratitude that i could never possibly repay. It’s funny I’ve actually written an entire post before about his “fussy-cutting”. haha
BTW thanks so much for the kind note and the collage you included with my order of Easy Tiger! means a lot to me!!
“Become a servant of wonder” This is going up on my bathroom mirror.
Same Tracy!! 😍
Thank you! Excited that it struck a chord!
Love that idea!! That would be so great to see! So glad that resonated with you!
I'm endlessly grateful for the generosity and openness you bring to this community. Every time I read your posts, I walk away with something new—some spark of insight or encouragement that stays with me. There's a gentle wisdom in the way you approach your work and answer questions, making even the most uncertain parts of the creative process feel a little less daunting.
Your honesty about not forcing a concept, and letting the work guide you, really speaks to me. It's comforting to know that even the most distinctive voices are shaped by accidents, experiments, and the willingness to lean into what feels uncertain or strange. That kind of permission is something a lot of us need: to let our curiosity lead, to embrace our own mistakes, and to trust that style is something that emerges with time and attention, not something you have to chase down.
Thank you for sharing your process so generously, and for building a space where curiosity and wonder feel not just welcome but celebrated. I too am grateful for this community.
I always love reading your replies, you give back warmth and openness and generosity by orders of magnitude.
The work is always giving us permission, always calling, always beckoning, always inviting us to lean in, to look closer, to change, to grow, to see differently, to become something new. The real task isn’t the making, it’s listening to what the work is already telling you.
"a space where curiosity and wonder feel not just welcome but celebrated." - Wow! Thank you so much for this! This moved me in a big way. This is what matters most to me. I love making things. I love writing and making collages, but the one thing I want to be a part of making more than anything else, is exactly that kind of space. If I get to do nothing other than this, that will be more than enough for me.
Metal straight edge and box cutter, plus ripping and a circle cutter. My tools of choice.
Love! I don’t do very much ripping on a regular basis, but I’m trying to incorporate it a bit more. What kind of circle cutter do you use, I have a couple, I use them often, but I’m not super happy with them.
Mine is made in Japan by “NT”. I've cut hundreds and hundreds of circles with it, and I'm still not always confident that it's going to work well.
Glad it’s not just me. I’m not sure I’ve hit the hundred mark with mine yet, but it’s always a question mark whenever i punch down the lever, always holding breath waiting to see what it’s going to do and what’s going to happen, haha.
Mine is made in Japan by “NT”. I've cut hundreds and hundreds of circles with it, and I'm still not always confident that it's going to work well.
Duane, as always, a beautifully considered and thoughtful post. I, for one, consider you to be an essential part of the community you reference, particularly your support on instagram and I’m very grateful for that. Your discussion here about letting the work ‘making you’ resonated because it’s something I try (and often fail!) to do too. For that reason commissions are out of the question for me because the moment I try to play to the room, it’s dead in the water.
Thank you for the scanner suggestion, I have one that I don’t make enough use of, so something for me to take away!
Trish! You are always a breath of fresh air to hear from! Thank you so much for your kind words! I haven't done very many commissions, they really are difficult for me too. i appreciate the challenge of it, but it's definitely not easy.
Oh, I think you're going to have so much fun with the scanner. It's my not-so-secret weapon, and it's so addictive, you have been warned, haha!
Wonderful
Thank you for sharing this
My pleasure!! Thank you so much for reading!
I'm a proud papa
Oh my goodness ! So interesting to hear about your process. The idea of scanning analog pieces and then reprinting them to be later used in other works- just brilliant ! And your entire paragraph about style provides so many deep lessons. « A servant to wonder »…. This is my entire reason for being alive.
My scanner is one of my best friends, haha! Scanning and reprinting is something I stumbled onto so haphazardly and now it’s become such an integral process of my whole work flow. Gives me access to a whole host of options and possibilities in the ways I use and create source material.
“Wonder” is what gets me up in the morning…and coffee, which is itself a source of tremendous wonder, haha!
Another wonderful post. There's too many threads in there to start tugging on each one of them here in the comments, suffice to say that this is a timely reminder of why I do what I do, and that I should do it more! Thanks
Thanks Joel! Yes!! More please!!
The definition of style as "what happens when you embrace your weaknesses" is brilliant. Essentially weaknesses are not failures but clues that often lead you forward to surprising and stronger, more authentic work.
So perfectly put!! YES! Years ago I read an interview with a singer/songwriter named Willy Porter, he said that your crutch is your strength. The thing you think you're the worst at is the thing that makes you unique. I think there is so much truth to that, your specific ‘faults’ and ‘failings’ are the things make your work impossible to replicate.
I always enjoy reading your posts, Duane. I loved seeing the Kirk Read phrase "fussy cutting" in this one. :)
Kevin!! So great hearing from you! Kirk is such an amazing artist and an incredible person! I owe him a debt of gratitude that i could never possibly repay. It’s funny I’ve actually written an entire post before about his “fussy-cutting”. haha
BTW thanks so much for the kind note and the collage you included with my order of Easy Tiger! means a lot to me!!
https://duanetoops.substack.com/p/the-work-that-works-for-you