Sunday, January 31, 2010

A Visionary Journey Into Fairyland/ A Nymph of the Spring/ Digital Art

                              



             
                 Fall Canyon
                 2009
                 by Eric Whollem
                 mixed media digital art
                     Copyright by the artist.

CLEAN WATER, A TREASURE FOR US ALL

This image shows a woodland nymph in ecstasy after the rain.
The cluster of blue forms in the upper left hand corner of the
drawing represents the energy of the rain.

The Muse in Fairyland/ Saving Our Pollinators/ Digital Art

   


                                                        Repose in the Glen
                                                        2009
                                                        by Eric Whollem
                                                        mixed media digital art
                                                            Copyright by the artist.

A FEW NOTES ON MIXED MEDIA DIGITAL ART

This is a drawing from 2009, colored with oil
or waterbase inks, (including metallic colors).

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Cinderella Art Stamps From Amphora/ The Muse of the Wood




"THE MUSE OF THE WOOD"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs each
Copyright by the artist.
A Set of Four Stamps

A Neohistorical View of the Sacred King of Nemi in
Light of the Vantage of the Micronation of Amphora

This stamp set, entitled The Muse of the Wood, takes a cameo
of my portrait of "The King of the Wood," painted with earth
paints in 1974, and imaginatively recreates a courtship scene
involving his muse. The king with his triangular hat appears in
my earth painting as seen on my post of  December 21, 2009.

A Ceramic Sculpture of the Goddess Laxmi Painted With Earth Pigments From Shasta/ Faux Postage






"LAXMI"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.

VOLCANIC PUMICE FROM MT. SHASTA
ON A CERAMIC GODDESS SCULPTURE

This stamp from the micronation of Amphora depicts
a sculpture of Laxmi (Lakshmi) that I created in the
1990's.

The pink volcanic pumice from Shasta symbolizes
bhakti, or divine love.

A Goddess Sculpture Painted With Shasta Earth Pigments/ Faux Postage by Whollem





"SHAKTI"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edtion of 100, plus ten artist proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.


GODDESS ART ON THE STAMPS OF AMPHORA

Shakti is a Sanskrit word meaning "goddess energy."

This is variously typified as nature, will, Maya, creative
force, imagination, etc.

Mother of the Octopi/ A Mermaid Fantasy Stamp From Amphora Featuring a Ceramic Sculpture by Whollem



"MOTHER OF THE OCTOPI"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edtion of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
79 x 48 mm.
Copyright by the artist.

THE OCTOPI OF AMPHORA

The mermaid nation of Amphora is a great friend
of all sea life.  The Octopi, due to their eight legs
and great manual dexterity, are frequently hired as
postal clerks by the Amphoran Postal Service.
This stamp depicts a ceramic sculpture I created
in the 1990's, entitled "The Fish Mother," as she
has a large fish symbol engraved on her skirt.
Octopi are well known from the classical art of
Minoa and often appear on their ceramic pots.

_________________________

See more stamps from AMPHORA:

AN AMPHORAN
STAMP VIDEO


ERIC WHOLLEM                                          

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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps by Eric Whollem.
*

Ceramic Figurines on a Cinderella Stamp From Amphora




"ASSEMBLY OF THE HOLY ICONS"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
79 x 48 mm.
Copyright by the artist


FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURES

This stamp depicts a group of ceramic figurines
that I created in the 1990's.

Sacred Rock of the Seahorse/ Fantasy Stamps by Whollem


 
"THE SACRED ROCK OF THE SEAHORSES"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
Copyright by the artist.

A NATURAL STONE TEMPLE OF THE SEAHORSES

In the north of Amphora, near the city of Hippocampus,
there is a natural rock formation in the limestone cliffs
near the sea.

In this outcrop one can clearly see the image of a seahorse.
As the populace of the continent of Amphora is composed
of seafolk: mermaids and mermen, this site is of great signi-
ficance in their holy rites of the sea.

___________________________

See my posts that talk about SEA HORSES:

BELOW IS A VIDEO
THAT SHOWS A
SELECTION OF MY
SEA HORSE FANTASY STAMPS

 

ERIC WHOLLEM                                           
*
Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps by Eric Whollem. Collage art.
*

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Mermaid Goddess Faux Postage/ Cretan Ceramic Sculptures by Whollem/ Earth Pigments From Nature




"MOERA"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.

CYCLADIC AND CRETAN INFLUENCES
IN THE SCULPTURES OF WHOLLEM

On the faux postage stamp above is a sculpture I created in 1992.
Like many modern sculptors, I have been an admirer of the Cycladic
art of the ancient Aegean, and of the related culture of Minoa in
Crete.
Moera is a Greek goddess of foreknowledge. She is related to
Aphrodite. The name Moira is a variation on Moera, which stems
from ancient terms for the Mother.

Moera is a Fate, or Fey, or Fay, an oracular goddess, associated
through Aphrodite to the sea, and as such could be designated a
mermaid. In Europe the Fata Morgana were considered prophetic
spirits of lakes and springs.


EARTH PAINTS

Moera is painted with earth pigments that I gathered in nature. The
red is an iron oxide. The beige is from volcanic pumice from Mt.
Shasta. The ochre color is from a sandstone deposit in the
Sacramento Valley near Pentz, California.

The clay body is terracotta. This sculpture currently is in a private
collection.


SYMBOLS IN THIS STAMP'S DESIGN

Stylized seahorses can be seen in the border elements of the stamp
above. Also a goddess can be seen in a ship with her long hair
flowing. The ship is horse-headed and has a fish-tailed rudder. This
sort of design was common in Phoenician ships of the Mediterranean.

The horse represents the power of the tides, the strength of Poseidon.
The two golden fish at the bottom of the stamp are the Abtu and Ant
fishes out of Egypt. These were considered very sacred. In Tibet
the two golden fishes are considered symbols of enlightenment. Carl
Jung, the modern psychoanalyst, wrote a classic work dealing in large
part with the symbolism of the Fish. Aion is thus one of this thinker's
better books.

My own book, The Mystery of the Mermaids, expands Jung's ideas.
I develop the idea that the mermaid is not just a symbol of the
unconscious, but may represent superconsciousness. Silver is the
symbol of the unconsciousness, according to Paul Foster Case; but
gold, and especially the golden mermaid, is a symbol of higher
awareness and realization.

________________

Readers interested in my GALLERY of Amphoran Stamps should see:

Those who wish to view my posts of Ceramic Sculpture should look at:

My posts that deal with the topic of Cycladic Influences in my work should see:

If you wish to view my entire online presentation of Faux Postage Stamps see:

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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps by Eric Whollem.

MYTHOLOGY
Mythographic art.
*

A Map of the Micronation of Amphora/ Cinderella Stamps by Eric Whollem/ A Metaphor for the Aquarian Age





                           A MAP OF THE EMPIRE OF AMPHORA
                                               by Eric Whollem

A CONTINENT OF THE FUTURE

Amphora is a term that comes to us from the ancient
Greek language. It means chalice or vessel. Usually
amphorae were used to store water, oil, or wine.

In astrology Amphora is the old name for the sign of
Aquarius. Aquarius is designated as the Water Bearer,
and symbolized by a female figure holding a clay vessel.

Parvati, A Goddess Stamp From Amphora/ Ceramic Sculpture/ Earth Paints





"PARVATI"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.


PARVATI, DAUGHTER OF THE MOUNTAIN

This stamp depicts Parvati, consort of the Hindu God, Shiva.
The ceramic sculpture shown is painted with volcanic pumice
from Mt. Shasta. This is appropriate as Parvati is called "the
daughter of the mountain." This pumice is one of the many
earth paints that I use in my art.

Minoan Goddess Artistamps/ Figurative Ceramic Sculpture/ Cycladic Influences





"MARINA"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
editon of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.

MARINA:  MOTHER GODDESS
AND MERMAID

This stamp from the land of Amphora, features a sculpture
I created in 1989. It is ceramic, glazed with a green raku glaze,
but also finished with oxides gathered by the artist in nature.

Dolphin Goddess Artist Stamps/ A Ceramic Sculpture With Earth Paints/ Atargatis







"ATARGATIS"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by EricWhollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.


ATARGATIS THE STARWHALE

Atargatis, meaning "Starwhale," was a Neareastern Sea Goddess.
She ruled the Zodiac and the fertility of the crops. She was mother
of the dolphins and the whales. She is of major importance in world
mythology.

Scandinavian Mythology on the Artistamps of Amphora/ The Golden Mermaids






        
  "SKOGSRA"
  Empire of Amphora
  2001
  by Eric Whollem
  edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
  48 x 79 mm.
   Copyright by the artist.

SKOGSRA, A PAINTING BY WHOLLEM
ON THE STAMPS OF AMPHORA

The Amphoran Postal Administration celebrates the
painted works of Eric Whollem, their postmaster general,
in this stamp issue.

Cat Goddess Stamps/ Ceramic Sculpture With Earth Paints





     
"BASTIS"
Empire of Amphora
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus artist's proofs
48 x 79 mm.
Copyright by the artist.



THE CAT GODDESS

This stamp from the Empire of Amphora depicts
Bastus, or Bast, the cat goddess of ancient Egypt.
This whimsical rendition relates to the styles of art
seen in the ceramic folk art of the Mediterranean,
of Sardinia and elsewhere.

Visionary Digital Art/ Contemporary Figurative Art/ Vessel of the Flame

     
                                                   

















  Vessel of the Flame
   2009
   by Eric Whollem
   mixed media digital art
   Copyright by the artist.

An Allegory of Hope for Our Time

Here the Muse bears a rose, a symbol of love. The vessel of flame
represents our spiritual aspirations in the Aquarian Age.

*

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Mermaid Artist Stamps/ Queen of the Dolphins




"QUEEN OF THE DOLPHINS"
Delphys Royal Post Office
2001
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
Copyright by the artist.


THE QUEEN OF THE DOLPHINS

This commemorative stamp from the Delphys Postal Administration
shows Persephone XIth, the Queen of the Dolphins, noble Empress
of the Empire of Delphys. The stamp was issued in 2001 to hallmark
the 1000th anniversary of her birth.

She was famous for bringing peace to the various tribes of fish that
live off the shores of the Isle of Abaton, the main island in the Delphys
Archipelago. (See the map of Delphys on my post of  January 18,
2010).

Among the fish who revere the memory of Persephone XIth are the
Blue Hatted Cadfish, the Pink Puffer, and the Blue Spotted Bo Fish
(an ocean-going Dolphin related to the River Dolphins of Brazil).

*
Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage stamps, mail art, mermaid stamps,
micronation stamps by Eric Whollem.
*

Mermaid Faux Postage Stamps/ Poseidon and His Trident: A Mythographic Study/ INITIATION/ Mermaid Mysteries/ With an inquiry into the meaning of the 'Upper and Lower Waters' in Mesopotamian and Hebrew legend/ An explanation of the Hebraic 'Firmament'



"THE SEA KING"
Amphitritonian Royal Post
2005
by Eric Whollem
Edition of 100, plus ten artist proofs
86 x 63 mm.
Copyright by the artist.

POSEIDON, GREEK GOD OF THE SEA

POSEIDON'S TRIDENT

Poseidon is known for his trident, a three pointed spear
that he carries in his hand. This spear is more than a
fisherman's tool. It has special meaning in the ancient
mysteries.

The three prongs represent the Triple Goddess. For
the Greeks this may well represent the three aspects
of Aphrodite: the maiden, the matron, and the crone.

The Maiden is Pandemos. The Matron is Marina.
And the Crone is Urania.

In the Eleusinian Mysteries of Delphi the trident was
"the rod of initiation" carried by the hierophants.
This rod was considered to grant to the neophyte
the inspiration of illumination, which is to say
initiation into the mysteries.


GREEK SEA GODS AND GODDESSES

There were many sea gods for the ancient Greeks.
Oceanos, the great progenitor of the sea, and Tethys,
his sister, were father and mother of many of the sea gods
and goddesses, which together with the sea nymphs and
Naiads of the springs, were called the Oceanids.

Uranos (Ouranos) was god of the Sea Sky or Ether.
His wife was Gaia. This couple were the primordial
progenitor divinities of beings on land and sea.

Uranos and Gaia were the parents of Oceanos, a Titan.
The Greeks conceived the Titans to be giant gods and
goddesses.

Tartarus was the god of the subterranean waters, the
River Styx and the Abyssos (the sea). He is equated with
Charon. Tartarus fathered with Gaia a number of Titans.

Thus: 1) the Ether or waters of the Sea Sky, 2) the material
plane of the oceans and earthly waters, and  3) the waters of
the lower worlds were ruled by a triad of oceanic gods and
goddesses: Uranos and Gaia, Oceanos and Tethys, and Tartarus
with Gaia.

Poseidon comes later in Greek mythology, but summarizes
the mermaid and merman gods of the ancient Aegean. (In one
sense his trident might symbolize the three-fold division of
the waters described above; this is speculative.) Poseidon
was the offspring of the Titans, Cronos and Rhea.



THE UPPER AND LOWER WATERS

The idea of the upper and lower waters is found in ancient
Mesopotamian mythology, also in Gnosticism. In the Bible
the waters "above the firmament" are mentioned in Genesis.
I speculate that the firmament represents the foundation of
the material world. The waters above the firmament could
correspond to archaic notions of the Ether or Sea Sky. In
ancient astronomy the constellations are filled with aquatic
symbolism. The night sky is seen as an ocean.

This quotation from Genesis will throw some light on how
the ancients viewed notions of the cosmic waters:

"And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of
the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters
which were under the firmament  from the waters which
were above the firmament: and it was so. And God
called the firmament Heaven."

The term firmament seems to indicate the physical earth.
The waters below the firmament would correspond to archaic
notions of the subterranean waters such as the Greek River
Styx or the Abyssos. The waters above the firmament would
be the Ether of the Sea Sky. The phrase, "God called the
firmament Heaven," could be explained to indicate how at
this point in creation Eden was a paradise on earth.

BELOW IS A VIDEO
WHICH PRESENTS MORE
OF MY AMPHITRITONIAN STAMPS



                                 ERIC WHOLLEM

THE MYSTERY OF THE MERMAIDS

Thus mermaid and merman symbolism is quintessential in
understanding human intellectual history, our mythology,
our astronomy, our astrology, and our metaphysics. In the
Bible the tribe of the priests of Israel was that of Levi, which
relates to Leviathan, the great whale. And later in the Talmudic
teachings it is said that when one enters heaven one dons the
scales of fish. This fish symbolism carries over to Christianity.

But the Buddhists regarded their heaven as an ocean. And
major Hindu gods like Vishnu and Shiva either carry the
trident or have fish tails (as in Vishnu's second or Matsya
--"fish"--incarnation).

In Celtic lore the heavenly Otherworld is in the sea. In
cultures across the world the dimension of the waters
is conceived as Heaven.

It is no mistake that on so many archaic churches in Europe
mermaids are carved in great number. Often mermaids are
sculpted or painted with wings. Though this is not commonly
known, mermaids have been regarded as angels for thousands
of years.


COVER OF THE BOOK
MYSTERY OF THE MERMAIDS
                                          ***
Ideas outlined here are summaries of material presented in
my book, " The Mystery of the Mermaids: Goddesses and
Gods of the Sea."  Questions on these matters can be addressed
to me by email or in the comments section below.

______________

My posts on INITIATION may be of interest to readers:

This link will take you to my posts on MERMAIDS:

Those interested in my FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS should check out:

BELOW ARE
A FEW SAMPLE
STAMPS FROM
AMPHITRITONIA
(Copyright
by the
artist)

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE


THE LOTUS POOL

HIPPOCAMPUS


My posts on MYTHOLOGY can be accessed on this link:

*
Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps by
Eric Whollem.
MYTHOLOGY/ MYTHOGRAPHIC ART/ INITIATION
*

Mermaid Artist Stamps/ Botticelli's Venus Reinterpreted




"VENUS"
Amphitritonian Royal Post
2005
A Set of Four Stamps
by Eric Whollem
editions of 100, plus ten artist's proofs each
63 x 87 mm.
Copyright by the artist.


A NEW VISION OF THE GODDESS VENUS

Botticelli's Venus is a very well-known image. In my
version there is no clam shell, but rather a cowrie, which
is regarded as a shell especially sacred to the feminine
principle.

Mermaid Artistamps From Amphitritonia/ Aphrodite's Role in Mythology



"APHRODITE"
Amphitritonian Royal Post
2005
A Set of Four Stamps
by Eric Whollem
editions of 100, plus ten artist's proofs each
64 x 88 mm.
Copyright by the artist.


APHRODITE, BORN OF THE SHELL


These stamps depict one of my renditions of Aphrodite,
the Goddess of Love. Her Latin name was Venus.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Fantasy Stamps From the Mermaid Micronation of Amphitritonia



"AMPHITRITONIAN MERMAID"
Amphitritonian Royal Post
2004
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
64 x 87 mm.
Copyright by the artist.



A Video of the Stamps
of
AMPHITRITONIA


A Video by Eric Whollem, 2011





View my posts about stamps from AMPHITRITONIA on this link:

BELOW ARE A FEW SAMPLE
STAMPS FROM
AMPHITRITIONIA
(Copyright by the artist)





Those interested in MERMAID FANTASY STAMPS may also wish to see:

BELOW IS A VIDEO ABOUT
THE MERMAID STAMPS OF
MERREMINDE
'Mermaid Stamps from Delphys'                             

My stamps of DELPHYS also feature mermaid themes:

MERREMINDE is another of my fantasy mermaid micronations:

ANOTHER OF MY
MERREMINDE
STAMP
VIDEOS

'Mermaid Stamps from Merreminde'                         

My general posts of MERMAID ART contain yet more material, including sculptural works:

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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, dolphin stamps,  fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, mermaid stamps, micronation stamps byEric Whollem.
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