REFLECTIONS/ An Abstract Mixed Media Painting

                   

                      

                                         

                                              Reflections

                                              1981

                                              by Eric Whollem
                                              acrylic, watercolor, bronze powder, and earth pigments
                                                  in polyvinyl emulsion on paper
                                              Collection of the artist.
                                              4 7/8" x 4.5"
                                              Copyright by the artist.



GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION

Wassily Kandinsky is considered the father of abstract painting. He was a
Theosophist and had been influenced by Leadbeater and Besant's book,
Thought Forms, which presented the idea that our thoughts manifest as
distinct geometric or organic shapes, characterized by colors which indicate
emotional tones.

ANCESTRAL TREE/ Mixed Media With Natural Earth Pigments For Texture/ ABSTRACT PAINTING

      

                                   

                                         

                                               Ancestral Tree

                                              1974

                                              by Eric Whollem

                                              earth pigment, casein and watercolor on paper

                                              Collection of the artist

                                              8.5" x 11"

                                                 Copyright by the artist.

Visages of My Ancestors

This is an early mixed media watercolor. It is an imaginary family tree.

The faces have a bit of a Saxon or Celtic look to them. And one may

note the shamrocks that grow here and there.

This work bears an affinity to the works of Paul Klee, who I had

discovered as a boy. My fifth grade art teacher, Mrs. Boyd, was a

fan of Klee. And she gave her classes more than the usual amount of

art time. In high school my art teacher also promoted the work of Klee.

Klee's art has great affinity to children's art, so many enlightened

educators have contributed to Klee's fame among generations of new artists,

a considerable boon to the proliferation of abstract art.

_______________________

THE VIDEO BELOW PRESENTS

A VARIETY OF MY APPROACHES TO

MIXED MEDIA PAINTING

                                     Mixed Media by Eric Whollem

*

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

THE YELLOW FISH/ Earth Pigments With Gouache: A Visionary Abstraction

           

                         

                           

                                The Yellow Fish

                                1980

                                by Eric Whollem

                                earth paints and gouache on paper

                                Collection of the artist.

                                14" x 11"

                                     Copyright by the artist.

A SIERRA NEVADA LANDSCAPE:

Rainpools Among the Granite Boulders

I painted this work in Feather Falls, California. I was living as a caretaker on an

old Maidu Indian rancheria. My Indian friend, Robert, was fond of carving in

soapstone. He gathered stones to carve "for his old age" around his house. Many

good carving stones could be found up towards Camp Eighteen and Fall River

Crossing.

THAUMATURGIAN FOX/ A Folk Icon/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING by Eric Whollem/ Indian Medicine Animals

    

                                     

                         

                               Thaumaturgian Fox

                               1984

                               by Eric Whollem

                               gouache and wax resist on paper

                               Collection of the artist.

                              3 7/16 " x 4 1/16"

                                    Copyright by the artist.

FOX MEDICINE

Fox in Native American medicine stands for intellect,

cleverness in all it's forms.

Fox is very independent, stands alone, and gets done

what needs to be done.

Fox is a blend of dog and cat. Intelligent like a cat

but with surprising strength for it's size.

Fox does not get lonely. It is very adventurous.

It can amuse itself. It  is a survivor. It can live in

any condition: snow or heat.

                                 *

These ideas were related to me by my muse, who

is part Iroquois and part Cherokee Indian.

_________________________

See my posts about MEDICINE ANIMALS

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/medicine%20animals

THE VIDEO BELOW

TALKS ABOUT MEDICINE ANIMALS

OF THE CONCOW MAIDU INDIANS

ERIC WHOLLEM                                        

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Indian medicine animals,  shamanism, abstract art, mixed media painting.

THE GREAT MOTHER/ Figurative Abstraction: A Goddess Icon/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

                   

                            

                                                       The Great Mother

                                                       1986
                                                       by EricWhollem
                                                       India ink and wax resist on paper
                                                      Collection of the artist.
                                                      6" x 9"
                                                         Copyright by the artist.


The Great Mother Cradling a Goddess in Her Arms

This painting demonstrates how my ceramic sculpture had influenced my
drawing and painting. The Great Mother shows plastic versatility and
the exploration of mass. Shapes are pulled, stretched and expanded,
much as a sculptor would do with clay.