THE BROTHERS/ paints made from raw natural earth and pulverized charcoal, bound with milk glue on panel

         

    The Brothers

    1973

    by Eric Whollem

    earth pigments and pulverized charcoal in casein on panel

    Collection of the artist.

      Copyright by the artist.

An Early Earth Painting From the 1970's

PAINTS MADE FROM NATURAL MATERIALS

This work harkens to a degree to the arts of the

Aborigines of Australia. In fact, it was painted with

a stick brush, much as the Australians do. In the

light angle chosen to photograph this work, the heavy

impasto paint stands out clearly in well defined light

and shadow.

THE HIEROPHANT/ a visionary painting made from earth pigments, a symbolist work incorporating elements from Tarot

                                                   The Hierophant

                                                   1976

                                                   by Eric Whollem

                                                   earth paints in vinyl emulsion on panel

                                                   Collection of the artist.

                                                     Copyright by the artist.

A Visionary Image of the Hierophant

TAROT SYMBOLISM

After a trip to the ocean in Santa Cruz, California,

in 1976, I painted this work depicting the triple-

crowned Hierophant.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a ceramic sculpture of the Serpent Goddess on the stamps of Amphora

"Boat of the Goddess"

The Empire of Amphora

2001

by Eric Whollem

edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

79 x 48 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

Ceramic Goddess Sculpture

THE STAMPS OF THE MICRONATION OF AMPHORA

The sculpture on this stamp is one of numerous boat

sculptures that I have created over the years.

FAUX POSTAGE/ Jaguar Woman/ a figurative ceramic goddess sculpture painted with raw earth pigments, ground in a mortar, fixed with acrylic emulsion on white earthenware fired to a bisque

"Jaguar Woman"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

Jaguar Woman

A COMMEMORATIVE STAMP FROM AMPHORA

The Amphoran Postal Union, in it's series of stamps

featuring Goddess icons, did not forget the heritage

of Mesoamerica.

Jaguar Woman is a sculpture created by the Postmaster

General of Amphora, who also happens to be the stamp's

designer, printer, perforator, and gummer.

The gum recipe of the Amphorans is a state secret of

the Empire of Amphora.

The hieroglyphs in this stamp's margins were transcribed

from the doorway of the Temple of the Jaguar, found

somewhere in the remote jungles of artistic imagination.

                                            Eric Whollem

                                            Postmaster General of the Amphoran Postal Union
________________________

See my complete online image archive of ARTISTAMPS:

https://picasaweb.google.com/earthpaint/EricWhollemSArtistamps#

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

THE DOLPHIN GODDESS ATARGATIS

Amphoran Faux Postage Stamp

by Eric Whollem

See more posts about AMPHORA:
http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/amphora

BELOW IS A VIDEO
ABOUT AMPHORA

ERIC WHOLLEM                              

*

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

FAUX POSTAGE/ a carving of a Selkie on terracotta bisque/ STAMPS OF THE MICRONATION OF AMPHORA BY WHOLLEM

"Selkie Carving"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

editions of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

A Primitive Carving of a Selkie

A PHANTOM CINDERELLA STAMP

The Amphoran Postal Union issued this stamp to

honor the arts of the colony of Mermen from the

north coast of Amphora. This is legendarily the

center of Aquatic Learning in the Empire of Amphora.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a ceramic mask of the mermaid goddess Tethys on the stamps of Amphora

"Tethys"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

edition of 100, plus ten artist proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

Tethys, the Sister of Oceanos

A CINDERELLA STAMP FROM AMPHORA

A ceramic wallpiece from the 1990's is featured on

this fantasy stamp from the continent of Amphora.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a ceramic goddess figurine painted with earth paints on the stamps of Amphora

"Mer"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

editions of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

Mer, the Mother, a Prototypical Mermaid Goddess

STAMPS FROM THE MICRONATION OF AMPHORA

Many Egyptian queens were named Mer. The word means

both sea and mother. Many mermaid designations originated
with Mer. Thus we have Mari, Merreminde, Mary, Myrrha,
Moera, Moira, etc.

This stamp shows a small figurine that I created from clay. I

painted it with earth paints, from pigments that I gathered in
nature.

My links below will take you to more faux postage stamps,
as well as my gallery of ceramic sculptures.

______________

Readers interested in my complete online gallery of FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS should check out this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/artistamps

More stamps from AMPHORA can be accessed here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/amphora

*

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

The stamp to the

right is a

POSTER

STAMP

for

Art Blog/Eric

Whollem

Those intrested in viewing my posts of CERAMIC SCULPTURES should see:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/ceramic%20sculpture

*

FAUX POSTAGE/ Nammu/ a figurative ceramic goddess sculpture panted with red iron oxide paint made from decomposed granite matrix

"Nammu"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

editions of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

Copyright by the artist.

Nammu, the Mesopotamian Sea Goddess

A CINDERELLA STAMP FROM AMPHORA

The sculpture on this stamp appeared in an earlier post

on this blog. She is a mermaid Goddess, related to the

Nommo of the Dogon. See my post of  February 11, 2010.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a ceramic goddess sculpture on the stamps of Amphora

"Inanna"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

editions of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

Inanna, the Prototypical Goddess of the Age of Aquarius

A CINDERELLA STAMP FROM AMPHORA, THE CONTINENT OF THE FUTURE

Inanna was a Sumerian Goddess, related to Ishtar. She is

sometimes depicted holding a vase. In this she recalls the

iconography of Aquarius, the waterbearer.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a ceramic figurine of Poseidon on the stamps of Amphora

"Poseidon"

2001

The Empire of  Amphora

by Eric Whollem

editions of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea

A CINDERELLA STAMP FROM AMPHORA

Amphora is an example of what stamp collectors call

a "phantom" country, which is to say, a land created as

an artist's fantasy. These countries are also referred to

as micronations.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a bas relief sculpture of the priestess of the Oracle of Delphi by Eric Whollem

"Tableau of the Pythoness"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

70 x 48 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

The Oracle of Delphi

A CINDERELLA STAMP FROM AMPHORA

The Pythoness or Pythia is the designation of the

ancient Greek oracular priestess of Delphi. This

fantasy stamp from my micronation of Amphora

depicts a bas relief sculpture of the priestess in her

prophetic ecstasy.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a ceramic sculpture of a horse and rider painted with natural earth paints featured on the stamps of Amphora

"Horse and Rider"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

A Horse and Rider Sculpture

FANTASY STAMPS FROM AMPHORA

Previously on this blog, I featured this ceramic sculpture. See
my post of December 15. 2009. It is painted with paints made
from raw natural earth that I gathered myself.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a stamp from Amphora featuring a detail of The King of the Wood by Eric Whollem

"The Sacred King"

The Empire of Amphora

2001

by Eric Whollem

edtition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

The King of the Wood

A CINDERELLA STAMP FROM AMPHORA

My painting, entitled, The King of the Wood, was posted

on this blog on December 21, 2009. The painting is one of my

earth paintings, made from paints I made myself from raw,

natural materials. This fantasy stamp from Amphora bears a

detail of the painting, the face of the king.

FAUX POSTAGE/ a ceramic goddess figurine painted with white granite and ground charcoal earth paints

"Ratri, Mother of Night"

2001

The Empire of Amphora

by Eric Whollem

edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

The Hindu Goddess Ratri Honored on the Stamps of Amphora

MICRONATION STAMPS BY ERIC WHOLLEM

 

The post office of Amphora issued this stamp to honor the

Goddess Ratri from the Rig Veda.

FAUX POSTAGE/ detail of Whollem's Mother of Hera on a stamp from Amphora

"Mother of Hera"

The Empire of Amphora

2001

by Eric Whollem

edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist

An Artist Stamp From Amphora
A FANTASY POSTAL ADMINISTRATION

This phantom cinderella stamp from the micronation of

Amphora includes a detail of a painting from the 1990's

entitled, The Mother of Hera.

THE LOTUS POOL/ the lotus born divinities of Asia: with a few comments on the Apsaras and the Gandharvas of the Land of Mist/ mixed media digital art

              The Lotus Pool

              2009
              by Eric Whollem
              mixed media digital art
                 Copyright by the artist

The Water Lotus

Mermaids are generally reckoned to be of two basic
categories: the Nereids, or mermaids of the salt sea; and
Naiads, or mermaids of fresh waters, such as lakes, springs,
wells, and rivers. 

In India the lotus seat of the gods and goddesses are called
Pushpaka. The great Goddess Lakshmi was born on a lotus
in the Milk Ocean. Innumerable examples of lotus-born
divinities can be found in the arts of the Buddhists and Hindus.

Generally the Apsaras, the consorts of the Gandharvas of the
Mist, are considered the generic mermaids of Vedic lore. In
the Rig Veda the Land of Mist in the origins of the world was
inhabited by these beings. The Gandharvas are the celestial
musicians.

*

Mythology, abstract art, clean water for the planet, metaphysical art; undines.

*

PORTAL OF THE SEASKY/ mermaid mythology: the interfusion of the planes of sea and sky

                                                  

                                                        Portal of the Seasky

                                                        2009

                                                        by Eric Whollem

                                                        mixed media digital art

                                                           Copyright by the artist.

The Seasky
A GLIMPSE INTO THE MYSTIC LORE OF THE MERMAID

The Welsh of old believed in the Land of Summer that exists
under the sea. Often the sky gods would mate with the gods or
goddesses of the sea.

THE POETRY OF ERIC WHOLLEM/ Imitations of Spring 1973

        

                                                     Melancholy Broods on the Stem

                                                     1972
                                                     by Eric Whollem
                                                     ink on paper
                                                     Collection of the artist.
                                                       Copyright by the artist.

Youthful Malaise
AN EARLY POEM

When one is young, hormones race through one's being

that wreak havoc with self composure. The evils of society
are blown out of proportion. In this work I was trying to
outdo the Existentialists. I had read Kierkegaard, Camus,
and others. Nothing seemed right with the world.

ROSEBONE/ a surrealistic acrylic painting from 1972 with a few comments on synchronicity with "The Beryl-Song" and other works of the Preraphaelite artist, Dante Gabriel Rossetti

                                                 Rosebone

                                                 1972
                                                 by Eric Whollem
                                                 acrylic with earth pigments in vinyl emulsion on panel
                                                 Collection of the artist.
                                                 3' x 4'
                                                    Copyright by the artist.


Crystallomancy and the Mystery of the Beryl Stone
INQUIRIES INTO PRERAPHAELITES

Rosebone, one of my early works, is a blend:  medieval
fantasy with a surrealistic touch.

MADGE PLANTS A TREE IN CANTHARIDIA/ My Muse, Oranges, Imagination/ Early Works in Acrylic

                                                   Madge Plants a Tree in Cantharidia

                                                   1972

                                                   by Eric Whollem

                                                   acrylic on panel

                                                   Collection of the artist.

                                                   2  x 4'

                                                       Copyright by the artist

The Mystery of Imagination

I painted Madge Plants a Tree in Cantharidia in 1972.

She bears an orange tree. And a golden orange seems to

float in the sky, perhaps having fallen ripened from the branch

of the tree. A blue jay rests in her hand.

ROLLING IN THE SEA/ an ink wash drawing

              Rolling in the Sea

              2009
              by Eric Whollem
              ink on paper
              Collection of the artist.
                Copyright by the artist.

Draughtsmanship
LIGHT AND SHADOW

This drawing was executed largely with my own
homemade ink--made from coffee in conjuction
with commercial black ink.

In previous years I have experimented with inks
from black cherry juice and onions.

Click on "Earth Paints" in the Labels column to
the left to find posts that deal with the manufacture
of paints from raw natural earths, charcoal, and
other materials.

*

Mermaids, earth paints.

TWO MERMAIDS/ mixed media digital art

                                                 Two Mermaids

                                                 2009
                                                 by Eric Whollem
                                                 mixed media digital art
                                                     Copyright by the artist

BIRD PERSON/ art of the Mother Goddess

                                                     Bird Person

                                                     2009
                                                     by Eric Whollem
                                                     digital art
                                                        Copyright by the artist

Bird Woman

Bird Woman is the name of the archetypical
shamaness. She became very popular in the new
feminist consciousness, especially after the publication
of the novel, Clan of Cave Bear.

KRATER OF THE WHALE WOMEN/ an allegory of the sea/ digital art

   

          

               Krater of the Whale Women

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

Homage to the Whale

This image was created to honor the sea life of our
planet. The whales, sensitive and intelligent, have been
given a very poor treatment by humankind.

BECKA OF THE BOWERS/ fairy art

                Becka of the Bowers

                2009
                by Eric Whollem
                digital art
                     Copyright by the artist.

A Fairy Amongst the Posies

Schoolchildren of today are not given nearly the
exposure to Fairy Tales that was given to my
generation. We all used to read Hans Christian
Anderson and the Brothers Grimm.

VIRACOCHA/ The Peruvian Legend of the Foam Born/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ The Inca Dolphin King

          

                Viracocha

                1994

                by Eric Whollem

                India ink and watercolor on paper

                Private collection, U.K.

                9 x 6"

                  Copyright by the artist.

The Peruvian Legend of the Foam Born

THE INCA DOLPHIN KING

Manco Capac was the first of the Inca Emperors.

He was said to have been born of the waters of

Lake Titicaca. These waters are known to have a

high sea salt content.

He is said to be one of the Viracocha, or Foam

Born.

Legend has it that Manco Capac and his bride,

Macma Ocllo, were dolphin spirits.

Sea horses live in the briney waters of Lake

Titicaca to this day. Lake Titicaca and the Andes

Mountains have been pushed up out of the Pacific

Ocean over the centuries. The sea life that remains

there has adapted to the high elevation.

Nicaragua also has a lake with sea life. But the

waters of the lake there have lost their high salt

content.

       FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS by Eric Whollem

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Abstract art, mixed media painting, mythology, Viracocha, Incas, Lake Titicaca.

CALIFORNIA DREAMS/ a modern painting based on prehistoric California Indian rock art

     California Dreams

     1984

     by Eric Whollem

     watercolor and wax resist on paper

     Collection of the artist.

     6 1/16" x 4.5"

     Copyright by the artist.

An Abstraction Based on California Indian Rock Art

The meandering lines of this work derive from my

study of Native American petroglyphs and pictographs.

          PICTOGRAPHIC ART VIDEO by Eric Whollem

*

Abstract art, dreaming, mixed media painting, Rock Art.

THE WATERS OF MAKARA/ a mixed media abstraction featuring the King of Sea Serpents in Kundalini Yoga

     The Waters of Makara

     1985

     by Eric Whollem

     India ink, gouache and wax resist on paper

     Collection of the artist.

     9" x 6"

       Copyright by the artist.

Makara King of Sea Serpents

Makara is the designation of the King of Sea Serpents in

Buddhism and Hinduism. He is also referred to as the Sea King. 

In Kundalini Yoga, Makara is the personification of the

energies of Svadisthana, the second chakra. When

the Kundalini reaches the third eye, Makara changes into

Bindu, a point of radiant light, according to Arthur Avalon

in this book, The Serpent Fire.

          MIXED MEDIA PAINTINGS by Eric Whollem

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Abstract art, mixed media painting, meditation, metaphysical art.

HOUSE OF THE TURTLE/ the Creator Spirit in his transcendental play/ California Maidu and East Indian Legends

                                                House of the Turtle

                                                1976
                                                by Eric Whollem
                                                ash paint, polyvinyl resin, bronze powder, acrylic,
                                                       watercolor and wax medium on paper
                                                Collection of the artist.
                                                8.5" x 11"
                                                  Copyright by the artist.

The Turtle, the World Maker

In the legends of the Maidu Indians of California, the world
was created by a trio of beings on a raft in a great ocean.
The raft was tied by ropes to the four corners of the earth.

QUATERNARY MAN/ a figurative abstraction rooted in ethnic art/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

                                             

                                                 Quaternary Man

                                                 1986

                                                 by Eric Whollem

                                                 gouache and wax resist on paper

                                                 Collection of the artist.

                                                 6" x 9'

                                                  Copyright by the artist.

Ethnic Influences in Figurative Art


In this work I aspired to incorporate what I had learned from
the art of autochthonous peoples, and create a figurative work
that recalls the tribal arts of mankind.

THE SERPENT FIRE/ an allegory of Kundalini meditation

      The Serpent Fire

      1985

      by Eric Whollem

      mixed media on paper

      Collection of the artist

      6 x 9"

        Copyright by the artist.

Kundalini Yoga

In the 1980's I devoted myself to the study of

Eastern mysticism, meditation, and yoga.

THE WELL OF SENSATION/ mysticism of the element of water/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

The Well of Sensation

1984

by Eric Whollem

watercolor and wax resist on  paper

Collection of the artist.

6" x 9"

Copyright by the artist.

A Byzantine Figure Study

The Well of Sensation incorporates a variety of

approaches to art. The landscape recalls Renaissance

art, while the figure, despite it's modernism, is a

reflection of studies of Byzantine art. The Byzantine

artists attempted to give their icons an otherworldly

aura. Light linear accents on a dark skin tone were

common.

The sky in this work is embellished with ecstatic

dashes of broad color. These enliven the landscape.

This work is about the mysticism of water. Water

is usually a symbol of emotions and feelings, hence

the title of the piece.

The waters of our oceans, rivers and springs are

facing many difficulties today. We all should pray

for clean water for everyone on this planet.

__________________________

See more of my posts of FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/figurative%20abstraction

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

FALL CANYON

digital art

by Eric Whollem

*

Abstract art, mixed media painting, Byzantine art, clean water for the planet.

UNDINE.