Monday, March 21, 2011

PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM/ 'Swede's Flat' by Eric Whollem/ 'My Approach to Pictographic Abstraction'/ Comments on Native American Rock Art





Swede's Flat
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
20 3/4" x 14 7/8"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

My Approach to Pictographic Abstraction

I have long appreciated the works of European artists such as Paul Klee
and Joan Miro, who were the principal forerunners of pictographic
abstraction. My European mentors utilized the inspiration of the paleolithic
artists of their own continent.

My studies of the rock art of the American Indians has been highly
influential in the pictographic design of my own art. I have travelled to
locate rock art sites in numerous places in California, the state with
the largest quantity of petroglyphs. Texas is second in numerical
quantity of such art. The Native American arts of Utah and the
Southwest have been given the most focus by the general public; this
may be due to the spectacular scenery in which the art is found.


CONCOW MAIDU INDIAN CULTURE

I lived off and on for thirty-five years in very close proximity to
Concow Maidu Indians in Northern California, where I assimilated
a great deal of Maidu cultural lore, which is often reflected in my art.

__________________


               An art video by Eric Whollem, 2011

Readers interested in my posts on PICTOGRAPHS AND PETROGLYPHS should see:

See my ABSTRACT ART:



Figurative Abstractions Video.                      

See MAIDU INDIANS:



Concow Maidu Art Themes Video.                        


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Saturday, March 19, 2011

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ 'Spring Nocturne' by Eric Whollem/ A pictographic work utilizing aqueous media and parafin resist




Spring Nocturne
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
20 3/4" X 14 3/4"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

_______________

Readers interested in seeing more of my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS should see:

BELOW ARE A FEW SAMPLE IMAGES
OF MY FIGURATIVE
ABSTRACTIONS
(Copyright by the artist)

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

SWEDES' FLAT

THE GUNAS

DREAM FRIENDS

THIS VIDEO
SHOWCASES MY
CONTEMPORARY ART

ERIC WHOLLEM                             

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM/ 'Dusk in the Form World' by Eric Whollem, 1987/ Mixed media painting on paper/ An expressionistic abstraction based on studies of petroglyphs and pictographs




Dusk in the Form World
1987
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
15" x 10 1/4"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The Form World

The 'Form World' is a term that one finds in metaphysics. The
idea being that on the psychic planes, forms take a lower
echelon in the scheme of things on 'the other side.'

Above the Form World, sometimes referred to as the Mental
Plane, is the Formless World. This is called Dharmakaya in
Buddhism. The Formless World is conceived of as a plane of
radiant light.

I depict the Form World here in pictographic images, some of
which are anthropomorphic and figurative, though some might
regard these figurations as rather 'childlike.'  In this respect I
follow in suit of the Blaue Reiter artists such as Paul Klee, who
adored the freedom of children's art.

___________________

See more of my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS on this link:

VIEW MY VIDEO OF MY
CONTEMPORARY ART
CREATIONS


Contemporary Art Video                                     

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Monday, March 14, 2011

A PICTOGRAPHIC FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ 'Seeds of Trimurti' by Eric Whollem, 1988/ A mixed media painting on paper/ ABSTRACT ART/ A painting derived from studies of Native American rock art~pictographs and petroglyphs




Seeds of Trimurti
1988
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
17" x 11"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Etching Through Thick Glue With a Stick:
A MODERN PICTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUE

This painting was created by a technique that I adapted from
a Japanese printmaking technique that involved the manufacture
of rubbings from printing plates made from glue on paper.

Although this is a completed painting, a rubbing could be made
from the deeply grooved impasto surface.

One will note that this technique is an excellent way of evoking
the styles commonly seen in archaic rock art and petroglyphs.


THE SEEDS OF TRIMURTI

Trimurti is a Sanskrit term that refers to the 'three forms' of
God. Most Hindus accept a major trinity of Gods: Brahma,
Vishnu and Shiva.

__________________

See my posts on PICTOGRAPHS AND PETROGLYPHS on this link:

More of my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS can be seen here:

Find out more about TRIMURTI:
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Sunday, March 13, 2011

CONCOW MAIDU INFLUENCES IN MODERN ABSTRACTION/ 'Dream Friends' by Eric Whollem, 1985/ Mixed media painting on paper/ A PICTOGRAPHIC FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION




Dream Friends
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
21" x 15"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Concow Maidu Influences in Modern Abstraction

When I lived at Chichi Te, or Black Earth Village, up on the
Mooretown Ridge in Feather Falls, California, my dreams
were often filled with Indian cultural motifs. I would dream
of Indian dances with people in full regalia. I dreamed of
flying with a small she bear. I dreamed of caves filled with
pictographic paintings rendered in earth paints.

The culture of the Concow Maidu Indians, among whom I
had been living there on the old rancheria, is based on
Dream. In the old days, the KUKSU DREAM SOCIETY was
very active. This was the basis of religion, and of the social
order.

The painting, 'Dream Friends' is a pictorial representation
of the dream world in which I had become involved. In
the upper right hand corner of the painting is a window
through which I had experienced the sort of dream
phenomena mentioned above.

________________________

Readers interestd in my posts on DREAMING should see:

My posts about the MAIDU INDIANS can be accessed here:

My FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS can be found here:

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Saturday, March 12, 2011

A METAPHYSICAL FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ 'Attendant of the Tripod' by Eric Whollem, 1988/ A pictographic rendition of the oracle of Delphi with her tripod/ FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM





Attendant of the Tripod
1988
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
17' X 11"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The Oracle of Delphi

The national oracle of Greece in ancient times was established at
Delphi. A priestess and her sacred tripod featured in the rites that
were enacted there. From the intoxicating fumes of a vulcan
spring, the prietess would go into trance and recite poetry which
would then be interpreted by a priest.

People would come from all across Greece to receive the oracle's
wisdom in order to guide their lives.

____________

See more of my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS on this link:

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Friday, March 11, 2011

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ 'Watermoon' by Eric Whollem, 1986/ 'Notes on the West Coast School of Figurative Expressionism'/ My interactions with Elmer Bischoff, as my art instructor/ MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER




Watermoon
1986
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
Collection of the artist
20 7/8" x 14 7/8"
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Notes on the West Coast School of Figurative Expressionism

I studied art formally at U.C. Berkeley in the late 1960's and early
1970's. The late Elmer Bischoff, now relatively well known, was my
life drawing instructor. I often would take my paintings to him for
his comments. He was a very easy going man with a good sense of
humor. He often would draw very exaggerated figurative images
to amuse his classes.

U.C. Berkeley, the San Francisco Art Institute, and the California
College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland at that time were known as
the bastions of the West Coast School of Figurative Abstraction.

The figureheads of this movement were artists such as Diebenkorn
and Hans Hoffman, David Park, and, of course, Elmer Bischoff.

Although my works over the years generally bear little ressemblance
to the established masters of this tradition, my paintings have very
often been figurative abstractions.

The work, 'Watermoon,' seen here has certain affintities to Abstract
Expressionism, but is laced with pictographic forms based upon my
studies of Native American petroglyphs.




                                 Figurative Abstractions Video.

_______________

Readers interested in reading more about the West Coast Figurative Expressionists should see:

See more about ELMER BISCHOFF here:



Figurative Expressionism Video                              

See more of my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS on this link:

See my posts on EXPRESSIONISM:

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

CONTEMPORARY ART/ 'Fugue on Manganese' by Eric Whollem/ A Pictographic Abstraction/ Mixed media on paper, incorporating earth pigments in polyvinyl resin





Fugue on Manganese
1979
by Eric Whollem
watercolor, gouache, earth pigments
and polyvinyl resin on paper
17 7/8" x 14"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

An Abstraction From the 1970's

This is an early work of mine. It harmonizes geometric rhythms with
organic shapes. Bach's musical work, 'Die Kunst der Fugue,' has long
been one of my favorite classical pieces. I used to paint listening to
Bach, Hayden and Mozart frequently in the 1970's.

I also began listening to international ethnic music. Aboriginal
Australian djeridu, Zen sakahuchi, and Central Asian melodies all
contributed to my mood.

_________________

See more of my EARLY WORKS on this link:

Readers may also wish to peruse my posts of ABSTRACT ART:

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Sunday, March 6, 2011

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ 'Village of the Coyote' by Eric Whollem, 1985/ A modern art depiction of traditional Native American Indian lore~Coyote Legends/ Notes on Concow Maidu Lore on Henokano, the Trickster Coyote/ CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT ART





Village of the Coyote
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
15" x 21 1/4"
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Henokano

Coyote is called Henokano by the Concow Maidu Indians of
Butte County, California. Coyote, of course, is featured in the
legends of numerous Native American people.

According to the Maidu, Henokano was one of three archetypical
beings who floated on a raft in a great ocean at the beginning of
time. Turtle, or Ultrama, was there. Also Wonomi, or Earth
Initiate.


SHAMANISM AND COYOTE

Coyote is conceived of as a trickster. The Maidu stories tell us
that originally the stars were placed in an attractive pattern in
the sky~but Henokano scattered them in a disorderly manner.

Today at Little Bald Rock in Butte County, one can see Coyote's
wife. She is a large triangular shaped  granite boulder.

Coyote is also remembered in stone by the Concow Maidu. He
appears on Table Mountain above Oroville, California, laying next
to Lizard. Not far off is a large stone that is Wonomi, the Earth Initiate.
These stones are basaltic lava formations.

In some Native American views, the trickster energy is parcel of
the mindset of a shaman. A shaman is often a clown, creating
mock situations that ultimately lead to healing through humor.

___________

Readers may wish to view my posts that deal with NATIVE AMERICAN influences in my art on these links:

Those specifically seeking posts on the CONCOW MAIDU INDIANS should see:

Others may want to see more of my ABSTRACT ART:

See more about MEDICINE ANIMALS here:

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Friday, March 4, 2011

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ 'Intuitive Beings' by Eric Whollem/ A mixed media pictographic abstraction on paper




Intuitive Beings
1987
by Eric Whollem
gouache, parafin and metallic paint on paper
15 3/4" x 11 3/4"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

A Pictographic Abstraction

The above painting incorporates elements from California
prehistoric rock art~specifically the circular forms with
dashes that run around the periphery. Such designs are
common in the rock art of the Chumash Indians of the
Santa Barbara area of Southern California.

One might observe that I have followed suit with the use
of form found in Abstract Expressionism, a movement
popular (that is to say among afficionados of abstract art)
in the late 1940's and 1950's.


Zen and Taoist Influences

A number of the Abstract Expressionists were influenced
by Zen calligraphy. Although this work in particular does
not bear any affinity to Zen art, I have studied the works
of Suzuki and other Zen masters. I always was impressed
by Huang Po and other Chinese Chan precursors of the
Japanese Zen. In Korea Zen is called Son Buddhism.

Chinese philosophy was a hobby of mine when I was in
college. I especially was influenced by Chuang Tzu, the
hermit nature philosopher. His teachings no doubt were
important catalysts to my immersion in nature over the
years. I have spent much of my life as a hermit in the
Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills. . . in places such
as Palermo, Feather Falls, Swedes' Flat, and Concow.

This painting was painted in Swedes' Flat, an area in the
oak and gray pine studded foothills of Butte County. I lived
at an elevation of 1500 feet, just above the valley fog. I was
graced with views of hills and trees rising up out of an
ocean of fog in the winter. . . something archetypically
oriental.

________________

Readers interested in my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS should see this link:

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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

CONTEMPORARY PAINTING/ 'The Spirit of Autumn' by Eric Whollem/ A figurative abstraction/ Mixed media on paper/ ABSTRACT ART



The Spirit of Autumn
2003
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
6 7/8" x 9 7/8"
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

An Allegory of Nature

My art over the years has drawn upon innumerable sources, but
the work above takes most of it's influence from the storehouse
of Imagination.

________________

Readers interested in my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS should view this link:


Figurative abstraction video.                  


Also of interest may be my GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTIONS:

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