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Martin Hughes's avatar

Playyyyy! Here's to us all being big kids.

Your post has, once again, inspired me to create something new. I DM'd you the finished result... hope you like it!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Hear, hear! the piece you sent is amazing!!

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Martin Hughes's avatar

🫂

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Jason McBride's avatar

Yes! Play is so vital to vitality! Thanks for the shoutout, Duane. I love all of these collages, but the analog index card ones especially intrigue me. When I first started trying to learn illustration and experimenting with collage art, I used 3x5 cards. After my first one, I was hooked. There's something so playful about decorating an index card!

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Duane Toops's avatar

My pleasure! Thanks for all you do! The index cards are probably my favorite creative practice. I first started with 3×5 as well but once I tried 4×6 it was over. I’ve found it’s the perfect size for what I try to do with them. I never get tired of it.

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Jason McBride's avatar

I'll have to give that bigger size a try!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Hope it works for you!

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Lisa Kahn Schnell's avatar

Aaah! That first one! Love it. And the second one, too. (All are lovely, but those really got my attention!) Thanks also for the reminder to play and "be the weird you want to see in the world."

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much Lisa! So glad you liked them! i was just trying to inject a bit of whimsy into my process and my compositions. “the weird you want to see in the world” - I blatantly stole form @Jason McBride, if you’re not following his work, I highly recommend it! Thanks again!

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Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

Duane, do you frame your work? Do you sell it?

Every piece is *sighs* so interesting!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks Gloria! I frame my work as needed. I’ve had a few pieces in a few different gallery shows recently, the galleries required matting and framing. The pieces are usually for sale when they’re in the gallery. Though I’ve never sold a piece at a gallery show. I’ve sold a few pieces via direct request on Substack and Instagram. I’ve been toying with the idea of an online shop but I just haven’t gotten around to working on it yet, lol.

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Ann Collins's avatar

“When we lose the capacity to play, we lose our connection to the deepest, truest, purest parts of who and what we are.”

So true, Duane. Alot of times I’m tempted to overthink a project. But I notice the way play has an immediacy and instant feedback that keeps it alive. Children are so good at this! I’m trying to find more ways to hold lightly to the outcome and really enjoy the process.

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Duane Toops's avatar

If there’s one thing I am especially good at, it’s over thinking, lol. I think you’re absolutely right. I’m always looking for ways to take a more childlike approach to what i do. Always trying to figure out how to it less seriously. Always trying to make the fun and interesting. Doing weird things, just because…

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