11 Comments
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Victoria SkyDancer's avatar

I love the balance you strike between image and text, and how that changes with each piece. I also hear you on debating how much "texture" to include in a given piece before it gets too busy and chaotic, especially when you start with a compelling central image.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much! It's a delicate balance. One I seem to be struggling a lot with these days. I often err on the side of overdoing it. But, I'm trying to make an effort to be more minimal. Thanks again!

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JS Hyder's avatar

Lovely work. I'm only dropping in another suggestion as it's been an earworm for me and one I've played over a few times. Your Ghost - Kristin Hersh. (I have eclectic tastes and often only like one song by an artist) Hope it inspires something.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Nice! Drop in as many as you like, lol. I'm not familiar with Kristin Hersh. Looking forward to it checking it out! Thanks again!

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Caro Henry's avatar

I love what you did for the “a sign of life” piece! Yes, that Foo Fighters song is great!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much! I'm really glad you like it! I went down a Foo Fighters rabbit hole this week. I definitely want to do a few more of their songs. Thanks again for the request! Feel free to send any others you might have my way!

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Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke's avatar

Are some of these older artwork? I thought I saw you write that you work full time. How do you have time to create so many new ones that you post every day?

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much for reading. I do work full time. I only get to work on art in small bursts and fragments. So, I try to be efficient with my time and my process.

I get up early every morning and work on pieces before work. It helps set the pace for the day, and gets my creativity flowing. I keep my notebook open and handy at work, so I can make notes or sketches for anything I might still be thinking about or working from the morning.

When I get home I give myself about half an hour or so to do some collage sketching at my work bench, moving bits of paper around, cutting type out, fine tuning things, scanning bits that might be useful for compositions. My work flow is a bit of an analog/digital hybrid. After dinner, I'll usually spend part of my evening on the couch with my iPad working on things as well.

When I have down time where I feel like working but don't have any ideas I'll try to do prep work. I'll make textures that can be useful for digital compositions. I'll make collages papers or backgrounds that could be good for pieces. I'll cut out and scan images and pieces of text that I might be able to use. So when I do sit down to work on a piece I have a lot my core elements prepared and available.

It all adds up and helps me stay productive.

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Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke's avatar

So when do you do the dishes or vaccum or laundry? lol

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Duane Toops's avatar

Haha! Dishes right after every meal. Laundry Tuesday and Sunday. Vacuum Sunday, in-between laundry. 🤣

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Christianna Joy Scott's avatar

Ah! Another soul who appreciates playlists at least as much as me! I inherited this love from my dad, who started with mixtapes. Keep sharing these odes to songs and how they speak to one another! The world needs more of it.

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