Wednesday, May 23, 2012

EARTH PAINTS/ 'Wasp Doctor' by Eric Whollem/ Natural Pigments Used for Paint/ Figurative Abstraction




WASP DOCTOR
1979
by Eric Whollem
earth paints with wasp nest on
wooden panel
Collection of the artist
6" x 6"
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

AN ANECDOTE FROM MY STAY IN AN OLD INDIAN VILLAGE

When I was staying at Black Earth Village in Feather Falls, the
old Indian grandfather used to sit  under the walnut tree, where he
would set out a tub of water with a stick across the top. This was
a wasp trap. Insects would fall into the water and drown, thus
eliminating what otherwise would have been a bothersome
pest in the area of seats in the shade. Meat bees were especially
hard to take with their painful bites.

I did not choose to place the wasp nest os this painting, the wasps
chose this painting to establish their nest. They apparently wanted
their story to be told.

I lived off and on at Chi Chi Te, or Black Earth Villlage for many
years, among my friends who happened to be Concow Maidu
Indians.

The black background in this painting is made from rough chunks of
charcoal, ground in a mortar. The green and blue earth paints where
gathered from Forbestown and Lumpkin Road respectively.

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See more posts about the MAIDU INDIANS:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE



PAINTED STONES
earth paints on rock
by Eric Whollem


This link will take you to more about my EARTH PAINTS:

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Friday, May 18, 2012

OCEANIC GODDESS/ A figurative ceramic sculpture using volcanic pumice from Mt. Shasta for final colorization/ CERAMIC SCULPTURES BY ERIC WHOLLEM/ Mermaid Goddess Art



OCEANIC GODDESS
1990
by Eric Whollem
volcanic pumice from Mt. Shasta in acrylic
emulsion on white earthenware clay with high grog content
Private collection
6"
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

A GODDESS OF THE SEA

This is one of my early ceramic sculptures. I had been
making earth paints from scratch for some time, creating
paintings on panel in this medium since 1973.

It was only natural to extend the use of my home made
earth paints to ceramics when I began making sculptures
in 1989.

________________________________

See my online image gallery of FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURES:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE


NAMMU MOTHER OF THE MERMAIDS
by Eric Whollem

Some readers might be interested in my blog posts on the topic of the GODDESS:

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Saturday, May 12, 2012

CERAMIC SCULPTURES on Faux Postage Stamps from Doggonia/ ARTISTAMPS BY ERIC WHOLLEM/ Figurative Ceramic Figurines and Pendants/ DOG SCULPTURES



CERAMIC TREASURES OF PUPPOPOLIS
Doggonian Royal Post Office
2012
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamp
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

DOGGONIA'S ELUSIVE CERAMIC TREASURES

Doggonia, an island nation in the Dog Sea, is one of my fantasy micronations.
My most recent stamp issues from Doggonia have fancifully featured a variety
of my  ceramic sculptures as relics of Doggonian archaeological digs.

The stamp above, seen on my recent video of Doggonian stamps, is posited
as a treasure of Puppopolis, a city in the south of Doggonia. This sculpture was
unearthed from a midden on the outskirts of the city.


MAP OF DOGGONIA
2004
by Eric Whollem
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The border design from 'The Ceramic Treasures of Puppopolis' is adapted
ostensibly from archaic weavings manufactured from cloth woven from cat fur.
Insofar as Felinia is a neighboring nation, sharing the island with Doggonia, the Cat
Wars have been waged for many centuries, each nationality vying for cultural dominance.


CERAMIC TREASURES OF PUPPOPOLIS
Doggonian Royal Post Office
2012
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamp
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST


Beyond the Straights of Pup, the independent Isle of Meese is inhabited by a curious
race of Rodentia, who have established no civilization, no capital, no cities or
infrastructure other than some earthen holes being currently adapted for use as
postal facilities, in order to raise revenue for the country on the international stamp
market. This is a work in progress. Keep posted to this blog for further developments
among the Meese.


THE VIDEO BELOW
FEATURES  MY RECENT
FANTASY STAMPS
FROM
DOGGONIA


       ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURES OF DOGGONIA



RELIQUARY CANINE
Doggonian Royal Post Office
2012
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamp
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

This figurine is said to be from the area of Dogsmouth, a seaport town in
the west of Doggonia. It was retrieved intact from the ruins of the Castle
of Lord Rover.


TREASURES OF DOGGONIA
Doggonian Royal Post Office
2010
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamp sheet
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The ceramics on this sheet of stamps are small pendants, each showing a
type of dog. The currency of Doggonia is the Bone. The marginal inscription
on this stamp sheet indicates that cumulatively 81 Bones postage is paid by the
purchaser. Three Bones is the standard postage rate for a letter of one ounce.

The Bone is divided into smaller currency, referred to as the Splinter. The
splinters do not have much trading value. But they are useful at Flea Markets,
where the dogs frequently barter with the Insect population for items such as
tennis balls and bits of rope.



'NEOLITHIC' CERAMIC CANINE
Doggonian Royal Post Office
2012
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamp
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The Doggonian postal administration, catering to stamp collectors in the
outer world, has indicated this sculpture as 'Neolithic.' In fact the dogs
of Doggonia have never worked in stone, but rather in bone, clay or
cat fur. Thus there is nothing 'lithic' at all about their culture. The royal court
of Doggonia made this concession to the science establishments across the
Dog Sea, to demonstrate their appreciation of the achievements of alien
civilizations in science and archaeology.

The Doggonian Archaeological Academy has established the term 'Boniferous
Era' in reference to the time period 10,000 B.D. (Before Dog). The Neoboniferous
Era is the modern age, wherein a variety of bone substitutes such as kibble have
arisen in general replacement of the traditional bone.

Thus the term Neolithic roughly corresponds to Boniferous.


PUPPOPOLIS PUBLIC FUND ISSUE
Doggonian Royal Post Office
2012
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamp
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The stamps of Doggonia include Postage Due stamps, as demonstrated in the
stamp sheet seen bellow. The expression 'Dagnabbit!' is an explitive utilized
by Doggonians when informed by their loyal postal carriers of revenues due the
general post.


DAGNABBIT
Doggonian Royal Post Office
2012
by Eric Whollem
virtual postage due stamp sheet
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

___________________________

See other posts of DOGGONIAN FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS:


BELOW IS A VIDEO
SHOWING CLASSIC STAMPS
FROM DOGGONIA

ERIC WHOLLEM                                  

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Sunday, May 6, 2012

FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE by Eric Whollem/ 'Bastus'/ Variations on the theme of the Egyptian Cat Goddess



BASTUS
1990
by Eric Whollem
volcanic pumice on white clay
Private Collection
12"
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Bastus or Bast is the ancient Egyptian cat Goddess.
In 1990 I created these fanciful versions of this revered
figure from antiquity.



BASTUS FIGURINE
1990
by Eric Whollem
iron oxide and bluish copper-bearing earth pigment
in resin on white clay
Collection of the artist
6"
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST


This sculpture of Bastus appeared on one of my faux postage stamps in 2001.
This stamp is from Amphora, one of my numerous fantasy stamp-issuing nations.


BASTUS
Empire of Amphora Postal Administration
2001
by Eric Whollem
faux postage stamp
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

_______________________

See more of my posts of CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

THE MOTHER OF NILE CAT
ceramic sculpture
by Eric Whollem

BELOW IS A VIDEO THAT
SHOWS MORE OF
MY CERAMIC CREATIONS

ERIC WHOLLEM                                         

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Friday, May 4, 2012

FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS/ Neferneferland Map Stamps/ ARTISTAMPS by Eric Whollem


MAP OF NEFERNEFERLAND
Neferneferland Postal Administration
2012
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamp
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

NEFERNEFERLAND

The stamps of Neferneferland are among the numerous
fantasy stamp issues that I have been creating since 1999.


MAP STAMPS OF NEFERNEFERLAND
Neferneferland Postal Administration
2012
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamp sheet
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

See more of my maps and stamps of imagination on the
links below.
_______________________________

Read about the stamps of NEFERNEFERLAND:
See my posts of FANTASY MAPS:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

View my online image gallery of STAMPS:
BELOW ARE SOME VIDEOS
THAT SHOW THE STAMPS OF
NEFERNEFERLAND

          MAP STAMPS OF NEFERNEFERLAND           

THE STAMPS BELOW ARE
CLASSIC ISSUES OF NEFERNEFERLAND

CINDERELLA STAMPS OF NEFERNEFERLAND         

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

CERAMIC FIGURINES AND BEADS USED IN HANGINGS OR MOBILE SCULPTURES/ Figurative Ceramic Sculptures by Eric Whollem/ Mermaid Goddess/ The Wife of Gearr



CERAMIC FIGURINES AND BEADS
2007
by Eric Whollem
oxides and copper carbonate on white clay
Collection of the artist
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

MATERIALS FOR CERAMIC HANGINGS

This selection of small figurines and beads was used in a hanging sculpture that I created in 2007.
I utilized flax cord to suspend the pieces. Flax is a very strong, water-resistant fiber, used for centuries by sailors to mend their canvas sails.

The two small dark red beads are glass beads, the work of other artisans, incorporated in my
sculptural collage. The other beads are, of course, my own ceramic works, pigmented with copper carbonate and various oxides.

_____________________________

View my posts of CERAMIC AMULETS:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

STRIATED GODDESS
oxides on white clay
by Eric Whollem

See my image gallery of FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURES:

BELOW IS A VIDEO
THAT DEPICTS MORE OF
MY CERAMIC ART

CERAMIC SEAHORSE STAMPS by Eric Whollem         
featuring ceramic wallpieces and amulets               

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012

CERAMIC GODDESS AMULET by Eric Whollem/ CONTEMPORARY FIGURATIVE SCULPTURE



GODDESS
c. 2003
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white clay
Private Collection
1.5"
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

This miniature sculpture is one of numerous pendants that I
have created over the years.

The links below will take you to more images, or posts, if you
prefer, about the Goddess concept and also my ceramic sculptures
in general.

__________________________

See my online image gallery of FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

GREEN GODDESS
ceramic amulet
by Eric Whollem

Readers interested in my posts on the GODDESS should view:

See more CERAMIC AMULETS:

SEE MORE OF MY
CERAMIC CREATIONS ON
THE VIDEO
BELOW

CERAMIC SCULPTURES ON FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS       
by Eric Whollem                                    


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GODDESS OF THE FISHES/ Ceramic Sculpture by Eric Whollem/ Copper Carbonate and Oxides on White Clay



GODDESS OF THE FISHES
2007
by Eric Whollem
copper carbonate and oxides on white clay
Collection of the artist
9"
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

GODDESS OF THE FISHES

The Goddess of the Fishes is a sculptural tribute to mermaid goddesses.
As such she could be configured by many different personalities from world
mythology: Derceto, Atargatis, Ceto, Thalassa, Doris, Amphitrite, Morrigan,
Nammu, Salacia, Ran, etc.

_____________________________

Readers interested in the GODDESS might want to view more of my posts:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

DAUGHTER OF THE MOUNTAIN
volcanic pumice from Mt. Shasta on white clay
by Eric Whollem

See my online image gallery of FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

SEE MORE OF MY
CERAMIC SCULPTURES
ON THE VIDEO BELOW

ERIC WHOLLEM                                     

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