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:

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

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:

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

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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.

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See my online image gallery of FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURES:

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

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:

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

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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

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See other posts of DOGGONIAN FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/doggonia%20post%20office

BELOW IS A VIDEO

SHOWING CLASSIC STAMPS

FROM DOGGONIA

ERIC WHOLLEM                                  

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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

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See more of my posts of CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

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

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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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.

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Read about the stamps of NEFERNEFERLAND:

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

See my posts of FANTASY MAPS:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

View my online image gallery of STAMPS:

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

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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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.

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View my posts of CERAMIC AMULETS:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

STRIATED GODDESS

oxides on white clay

by Eric Whollem

See my image gallery of FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURES:

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

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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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.

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See my online image gallery of FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

GREEN GODDESS

ceramic amulet

by Eric Whollem

Readers interested in my posts on the GODDESS should view:

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

See more CERAMIC AMULETS:

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

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.

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

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

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:

https://picasaweb.google.com/search/label/FigurativeCeramicSculpture#

SEE MORE OF MY

CERAMIC SCULPTURES

ON THE VIDEO BELOW

ERIC WHOLLEM                                     

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