FAUX POSTAGE SCIENCE FICTION STAMPS/ cherries for cinderella/ REPUBLIC OF THE MOON/ an icon from the lunar temple/ A PROTOCOMMEMORATIVE OF THE RETURN OF THE HARPIES

Cherries For Cinderella

2000

by Eric Whollem

Republic of the Moon

Edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

Copyright by the artist

Orphic Iconography in the Stamps From the Moon

Excerpts from the writings of Quantus Qwo

Postmaster General of the Republic of the Moon

Amongst the Loonar propensities reflected in the stamp issues

of our noble Republic, is the desire to preserve the rites of earthly

antiquity.

A few observations on this stamp's symbology:

Here the mysterious Medusa is flanked by two harpies, protectors of

the Orphic Rites. Those not initiated into the mysteries perhaps

will never quite comprehend how Medusa has been transformed into

Cinderella. This is as it should be, as that which is arcane is best

preserved by mystery expressed in terms of mystery. Are philatelists

alone among those who may have penetrated this Mystery?

FAUX POSTAGE SCIENCE FICTION STAMPS/ lunar liberty 22 asteris/ REPUBLIC OF THE MOON/ a tableau of the loonese script

Lunar Liberty

2000

Republic of the Moon

by Eric Whollem

Edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

Copyright by the artist

The Digital Script of the Loonese

Notes from the text of Quantus Qwo's Treatise on Lunar Civilization

It was the noble Cudley, first postmaster general of the Republic of the

Moon, who developed the digital alphabet depicted on this 22 Asteri

stamp. He allegedly developed the alphabet utilizing an antique DOS

system word  processor that was brought to the moon as scrap metal

in the twenty second century.

FAUX POSTAGE SCIENCE FICTION STAMPS/ the republic of the moon/ MERMAIDS OF THE MOON/ a protocommemorative fantasy stamp

Mermaids of the Moon

2000

by Eric Whollem

Post Offices of the Republic of the Moon

edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

Copyright by the artist. 

The Cudley Crater Lunar Sea Project

A FAUX POSTAGE PROTOCOMMEMORATIVE

An article submitted by Quantus Qwo

Postmaster General

of The Republic of the Moon

This stamp (being from the future) is not so much a

commemorative stamp as a protocommemorative, perhaps

a new genre to many. It will be issued to celebrate the Republic of

the Moon's return of the seas of the lunar surface into viable 
salt water basins. The Loonese are a very positive people and
believe that protocommemoration is the best means of getting
public works projects completed.

SUMI/ gouache and wax and plastic emulsion resist on paper/ A PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION

                Sumi

                1985

                by Eric Whollem

                gouache and wax and plastic emulsion resist on paper

                Collection of the artist

                9" x 6"

                              Copyright by the artist

Sumi, the Friend

In the language of the Concow Maidu Indians of

Northern California, the deer is called "sumi,'' which

means friend.

This pictographic abstraction features the artist's

own hieroglyphs for baskets. The rock art of the Indians

of California has greatly influenced my work.

_______________

See my blog posts on pictographs and petroglyphs on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/pictographs%20and%20petroglyphs

*

Abstract art, mixed media painting.

DOCTOR DREAM/ COMMENTS ON THE APPROACHES TO DREAMING FOUND AMONG THE MAIDU INDIANS, THE SENOI AND TEMIAR OF MALAYA, AND TIBETAN YOGIS/ earth pigments, watercolor, and casein on paper/ A PICTOGRAPHIC VISIONARY WORK OF ART DELINEATING TWO INDIAN SHAMANS APPROACHING THE DREAM LAKE OF SUMI, THE DEER

             

               Doctor Dream

               1978

               by Eric Whollem

               earth pigments, watercolor and casein on paper

               Collection of the artist

               10" x 8"

                         Copyright by the artist

Dream Magic

THE KUKSU DREAM SOCIETY

The culture of many Indian peoples emphasizes the

importance of dreaming. The Maidu Indians of Northern

California, for example, have a Dream Society. The initiates

of this society make deciscions based on their dreams.

THIS VIDEO PRESENTS

INFORMATION ON CONCOW MAIDU

DREAM RELIGION

                                             ERIC WHOLLEM

 

If someone dreams that he is supposed to bring food to the

Pow Wow, he follows the dream, etc.

This is all a part of the Kuksu Religion. See my posts on Maidu

Indians to find more about Kuksu.

This painting depicts Sumi, the Deer, standing near a lake. In

the old days sometimes shamanic initiates were required to

swim across a lake to gain their status.

The Senoi of Malaya

Many cultures throughout the world have similar approaches

to dreaming. The Senoi from Malaya came into the public eye

in the 1970's, when the book, "Creative Dreaming," appeared.

The children of the Senoi are taught to become heroes in their

dreams. If anything frightening appears in their dreams, they

are told to change the dream next time. By the time they are

adults they have mastery of their dream life.

A neighboring people of the Senoi, the Temiar, have a similar

approach to dreams.

These people have a tradtion of being highly respected by

neighboring tribal groups, as their dream culture gives them

advanced psychic abilities.

Tibetan Dream Yoga

In Evans-Wentz's book, "Tibetan Yoga," there is a section

that describes the approach to dreams as taught in Vajrayana

Buddhism.

Basically the yogi learns to control his dreams. In the idealism

of Buddhism, daily life is regarded as a dream, or Maya.

Different visualizations are practiced by the Tibetan yogi

that eventually bring him to enlightenment, both in dream

and waking life.

_____________

See my other posts about dreams on this link:

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

See my posts on the Maidu here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/maidu%20indians

BELOW ARE MORE

VIDEOS

ABOUT THE CONCOW MAIDU INDIANS

ERIC WHOLLEM                                          

CONCOW MAIDU CULTURE                                    

Abstract art, mixed media painting, dreaming, shamanism, Indians. Figurative abstraction.

MANCO CAPAC/ A Figurative Abstraction/ watercolor and gold tempera on paper/ AN EARLY WORK FROM 1974/ a neoprimitive figurative abstraction/ LEGENDS OF THE INCAS OF PERU

                  

                               Manco Capac or Spirit Ally

                               1974
                               by Eric Whollem
                               watercolor and gold tempera on paper
                               Collection of the artist
                               8 9/16" x 11"
                                                   Copyright by the artist

The Legends of the Incas

Previously on this blog I have posted articles about
Manco Capac, the first king of the Incas of Peru. I have
long admired Peruvian and Central American art. The
art of the Nazca is some of the best in the world.

______________

These links will take you directly to these previous posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/2010/02/manco-capac-father-of-inca-dolphin.html

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/2010/03/viracocha-peuvian-legend-of-foam-born.html

*

Abstract art, mixed media painting

NIGHT IN SWEDE'S FLAT/ mixed media on paper/ A PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION

    

               Night in Swede's Flat

               1984
                by Eric Whollem
                mixed media on paper
                Collection of the artist
                5" x 4"
                            Copyright by the artist

ADEPTS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN/ gouache and wax resist on paper/ A PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION STYLED ON THE PREHISTORIC ROCK ART OF CALIFORNIA/ Shasta Visionary Art/ SHAMANISM

             

               Adepts of the Holy Mountain

               1985

               by Eric Whollem

               gouache and wax resist on paper

               Collection of the artist

               9" x 6"

                          Copyright by the artist.

A Painting Delineating the Spiritual Masters

of Mt. Shasta

An "adept" is a high initiate in esoteric philosophy. The

alchemists of old were sometimes referred to as adepts.

Shamans on the path of Light are adepts. "Ascended

Masters," or beings who have reached such a high state

of spiritual evolution that they sacrifice their heavenly

estate to work for the benefit of humanity, are adepts.

Buddhists would call such "Ascended Masters" Bodhi-

sattvas.

This work, executed in a style based on my studies of the

pictographs and petroglyphs of California Native Americans,

presents an intuitive image of a Shaman working with

Light Engergies.

_________________________

See my posts on SHAMANISM:

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

View my articles on ASCENSION:

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

Read about MT. SHASTA:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogsot.com/search/label/Mt.%20Shasta

BELOW IS A VIDEO

FEATURING

MY PICTOGRAPHIC APPROACES

TO PAINTING

ERICWHOLLEM                                  

*

Abstract art, alchemy, Indians, metaphysical art, shamanism, spirituality. Figurative abstraction.

ROOT HUMAN/ gouache wax and plastic emulsion resist on paper/ A WHIMSICAL FIGURATIVE PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION

           

    Root Human

    1985

    by Eric Whollem

    gouache and wax and plastic emulsion resist on paper

    Collection of the artist

    9" x 6"

                   Copyright by the artist

______________

See my posts of FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS on this link:

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

*

THE IMAGINATION OF NUMINOUS BEINGS/ A figurative abstraction/ gouache and encaustic on paper/ FIGURATIVE PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION/ a work based on studies of the art of the San Blas Indians of Central America

             

              The Imagination of Numinous Beings

              1987

               by Eric Whollem

               gouache and encaustic on paper

               Collection of the artist

               17" x 11 3/4"

                             Copyright by the artist

Heated Parafin Resist

ENCAUSTIC PAINTING

Wax painting has a long history. The ancient

Egyptians painted their mummy cases with wax

paints. The Greeks practiced portrait painting in

wax colors. The murals at Pompei in Italy were

executed in wax colors.

THE BLUE CLOUD/ India ink and wax resist on paper/ A PICTOGRAPHIC GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION WITH DESIGN ELEMENTS BASED ON THE PREHISTORIC NATIVE AMERICAN ROCK ART OF CALIFORNIA

            

               The Blue Cloud

               1984

               by Eric Whollem

               Collection of the artist

               9" x 6"

                       Copyright by the artist

California Indian Rock Art
INFLUENCE ON MY ABSTRACT ART

Petroglyphs and pictographs have long been a major interest
of mine. Not many people know that California has more rock
art than any state in the Southwest. Perhaps because the settings
of the rock art of the Southwest are often so spectacular, it has
gained a larger place in the public eye. California rock art is
frequently very abstract. Much of it looks like writing.

                      View my video about pictographic abstraction.

I have attempted to do for Native American rock art a bit of
what Miro and Klee have done for the paleolithic art of
Europe. Many of my paintings and drawings are pictographic
abstractions.

Heizer's book, The Prehistoric Rock Art of California, is a good
source of information on the subject.

_____________

See this site for more about Heizer's book:

http://www.canyonwren.com/pitman/index.html

THE ORACLE/ gouache and wax resist on paper/ A GEOMETRIC FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

                                               

                                                    The Oracle

                                                    1984

                                                    by Eric Whollem

                                                    gouache and wax resist on paper

                                                    Private collection

                                                    6" x 9"

                                                                                       Copyright by the artist

______________________________

See more of my posts about GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTIONS:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

O, CITY WOMAN

mixed media

by Eric Whollem

ELEMENTAL JOY/ gouache and wax and plastic emulsion resist on paper/ A VISIONARY PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION

             Elemental Joy

             1985
              by Eric Whollem
              gouache and wax and plastic emulsion resist on paper
              Collection of the artist
              9" x 6"
                        Copyright by the artist


Blissful Spirits

The imaginary beings in this painting are related to
the sort of imagery that one finds in the pictographic
arts of peoples such as the Huichol Indians of Mexico.

MUSE OF THE BIRDS/ mixed media digital art/ COMPUTER GRAPHICS FROM 2010

                                  

                                   Muse of the Birds

                                   2010
                                   by Eric Whollem
                                   mixed media digital art
                                                           Copyright by the artist

MOUNTAINS OF THE HIEROPHANT/ watercolor and wax resist on paper/ PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION BASED ON NATIVE AMERICAN ROCK ART

           

 

             Mountains of the Hierophant

             1984

             by Eric Whollem

             watercolor and wax resist on paper

             Collection of the artist

             9" x 6"

                       Copyright by the artist        

A Work Reflecting My Study of Modoc Indian Rock Art

This work was painted after a trip to the desert
north of Mt. Shasta. I have visited the Modoc Lava
Beds National Monument a number of times.

CARYATID/ a wax etching on paper/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

                                              

                                                   Caryatid

                                                   1984

                                                   by Eric Whollem

                                                   wax etching on paper

                                                   Collection of the artist

                                                   6" x 9"

                                                                           Copyright by the artist        

The Human Form

Marc Chagall's otherworldly use of color always
intrigued me. The viewer will recognize what I
mean here, noting the blue face of the Caryatid.

This work was created using a blunted linoleum
cutter as a palette knife. I engraved through thick
layers of pigmented wax,  expressionistically
modelling this figure.

____________________

See my online image gallery of ABSTRACT ART:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

NEITHER CONSCIOUSNESS, NOR FORM, NOR FEELING, NOR PERCEPTION, NOR AWARENESS/ watercolor and wax resist on paper/ A PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION BASED ON MY STUDIES OF CALIFORNIA INDIAN ROCK ART/ a tribute to prajnaparamita

          

              Neither Consciousness, Nor Form, Nor Feeling, Nor Perception, Nor Awareness

              1984
              by Eric Whollem
              watercolor and wax resist on paper
              Collection of the artist
              9" x 6"
                      Copyright by the artist

An Esoteric Work

When an artist creates a work, he often names it based
upon those things that were being imprinted on his mind
at the time of the work's inception. This could be music,
landscape, events, or philosophical ideas, as in the case
of this work.

FISH OF THE MAGIC/ gouache resist with wax medium and plastic emulsion on paper/ A PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION

              Fish of the Magic

              1985
              by Eric Whollem
              Collection of the artist
              9" x 6"
                      Copyright by the artist

A Visionary Fantasy

A number of people have told me that this painting
reminds them of the Beatles' animated film, "Yellow
Submarine."  I saw that film when I was in college.

GARDEN OF THE NIGHT/ watercolor on paper/ AN ORGANIC ABSTRACTION STYLISTICALLY RELATED TO THE PICTOGRAPHIC DESIGN ELEMENTS FOUND IN INDIAN ROCK ART

                                                     Garden of the Night

                                                     1979
                                                     by Eric Whollem
                                                     watercolor on paper
                                                     Private collection
                                                     3 7/8" x 6 1/16"
                                                                                          Copyright by the artist

THE VIDEO BELOW
PRESENTS A SELECTION OF MORE
OF MY ART BASED ON PREHISTORIC PICTOGRAPHS

                                           Video by Eric Whollem

 

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Abstract art, early works.

ELF MATRIX/ gouache and parafin resist on paper/ A VISIONARY FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

    Elf Matrix

    1998

    by Eric Whollem

    gouache and parafin resist on paper

    Private collection

    24" x 18"

                Copyright by the artist

The World of the Elf

This fanciful abstraction, in it's vibrant

color, brings to life the visionary experience

of the world of fairies and elves. This is the gift

of art, to take us into other dimensions.

*

Abstract art, mixed media painting, visionary art, fairies, pictographs and petroglyphs.

MERMAID GODDESS/ a figurative ceramic sculpture/ NOTES ON MERMAID MYTHOLOGY/ The Astral Waters/ The Mermaids of Silver and the Mermaids of Gold

                                                     Mermaid Goddess

                                                     1999
                                                     by Eric Whollem
                                                     oxides on white clay
                                                     Collection of the artist
                                                     11 1/4"
                                                                                              Photo copyright by the artist

A Kore of the Sea
MERMAID MYTHOLOGY

This sculpture incorporates bas relief images of
seahorses and dolphins. Many ancient Goddesses
were mermaids: Atargatis, Amphitrite, Derceto,
etc. Many Goddesses have been associated with the
dolphins. Demeter, the Great Mother, was such a
dolphin Goddess. Amphitrite, a wife of Poseidon,
whose name translates as Triton of the Waters, was
a dolphin mermaid.

Though it is little recognized, Persephone may have
been a mermaid. Persephone, from the Eleusinian
mysteries, was depicted fish-tailed  in a sculpture
left by Greek Colonists on the coast of Southern Italy.
Barbara Vivino related this story to me, having seen
it.

Thus we can interpret the "Descent of Persphone"
into the Abysos, as the descent of Persephone in her
mermaid form. Thus is explained the watery element
of the River Styx, the subterranean river: it was the
vehicle of the soul of Persephone, the Initiate.

THE ROSY MATRIX/ an alchemical allegory/ GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION

    The Rosy Matrix

    1984

    by Eric Whollem

    gouache and wax resist on paper

    Collection of the artist

    3" x 4 1/4"

     Copyright by the artist

Homeopathic and Sympathetic Alchemy

Artistically there are two main alchemical functions: homeopathic

and sympathetic. The homeopathic function includes those

transmutations involving the inclusion of natural materials such

as earth pigments, vegetable matter, or other substances imbued

with special significance. These materials may be added to paint

or applied to sculpture with the goal of raising consciousness: this

is the magnum opus, or Great Work, to take the artist to a higher

level of being.

The sympathetic function involves that art that imitates actions

or intentions. This could be exemplified in art that depicts in a

literary way prayers or perhaps political or social issues. Picasso's

'Guernica' is a good example of the sympathetic alchemical function

in art that has a political statement, while there are innumerable

spiritual icons from diverse cultures that exemplify the sympathetic

function: the evocation of the divine. The ancient alchemists were

people who aspired to enlightenment through the study of mysticism

and science.

My image, entitled 'The Rosy Matrix' is sympathetic insofar as it

depicts the nexus of the cross, a spiritual symbol found, of course,

in Christianity, but also in Chinese Taoism, where it is called 'rice'

and represents the breath, which could be interpreted as prana.

Many practitioners of yoga revere the cross form as it universally

appears in the vision of meditators as the gateway to the other

dimensions. The ancient alchemists of Europe always incorported

Christian symbolism into the Magnum Opus. However we do not

want to forget that it was the Arabs who first invented Alchemy.

Galen, was one of the first alchemists, famous for establishing the

four elememts: earth, air, fire and water as primordial.

Chinese alchemy always added 'metal' to the primordial elementary

statess of matter and spirit, while the alchemists of India added

'ether.' 

It was Paracelsus, a Swiss alchemist from the time of the Renaissance,

who threw out Galen's earth, air, fire and water, and established his

own theory that the elemental states were much more diverse in

character than exemplified in the Galenic system. This eventually lead

to the discovery of the Table of the Elements that is now found in

modern chemistry.

_______________

See my posts on the subject of ALCHEMY on this link:

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

A POSTER STAMP FOR ART BLOG/ERIC WHOLLEM

King of the Wood

by Eric Whollem

earth paints on panel

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

My EARTH PAINTINGS, which are prime examples of homeopathic alchemy can be seen here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/earth%20paints

Those interested in my GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTIONS should see:

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

Geometric Abstractions video.                                

My complete online posting of ABSTRACT PAINTINGS can be found here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/abstract%20paintings

Read more about ALCHEMISTS on this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy

                                                                                      *

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