Poseidon
1989
by Eric Whollem
earth pigments in acrylic emulsion on white clay
Private collection
7"
Photo copyright by the artist.
Monday, February 15, 2010
POSEIDON/ A Ceramic Figurine Painted With Earth Paints From Nature
Poseidon
1989
by Eric Whollem
earth pigments in acrylic emulsion on white clay
Private collection
7"
Photo copyright by the artist.
The Artist's Studio/ Eric Whollem/ Ceramic Goddess Sculptures
The artist's studio. Concow, California. 1990's.
Photo copyright by the artist.
Eric Whollem's studio in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Photo copyright by the artist.
HEAD OF PAN/ A Ceramic Sculpture With Natural Earth Pigments and Raku Glaze
Head of Pan
1992by Eric Whollem
earth pigments in acrylic emulsion , raku glaze
on white clay
Collection of Marlene Permar
12" x 10"
Photo copyright by the artist.
PAN
Pan is famous from Greek mythology. He is said
to have the legs of a goat; but insofar as dolphins
were said by the Greeks to be goats of the sea,
I speculate that Pan may be related to the dolphin,
especially as his protoype, Ea, from Mesopotamia
is a being with head of a goat and fins of a fish.
FISH MOTHER/ Figurative Ceramic Goddess Sculpture: A Mermaid Icon
Fish Mother
1992
by Eric Whollem
earth pigment on terracotta
Private collection
5"
Photo copyright by the artist.
MERMAID MOTHER OF THE FISHES
This figurine was featured on my fantasy stamps of
Amphora as "Mother of the Octopi." She has a large
fish symbol on her gown.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
HORSE AND RIDER/ the sculptural traditions of ceramic horse and rider: earth paints on terracotta
Horse and Rider II and III
1992by Eric Whollem
earth paints on terracotta
Private collection.
Photo copyright by the artist.
PIXIE OF THE GLEN/ a figurative bas relief ceramic fairy sculpture colored with oxides on white clay
Pixie of the Glen
2002
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white clay
Private collection.
8" x 10"
Photo by M. Spielmann
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See more of my CERAMIC SCULPTURES on these posts:
LIZARD WOMAN/ a figurative ceramic sculpture relating to Concow Maidu Indian legends/ Goddess of the Lizards
LIZARD WOMAN
1989
by Eric Whollem
oxidized granite in polyvinyl resin on white clay
Private collection.
11"
Photo copyright by the artist.
Earth Paints From Mooretown Ridge
Granite takes on hues of red when it's iron content oxidizes.
Basically what you have is rust. The pigments for the paint
that colors this sculpture are ones I gathered from the Sierra
Nevada Mountains.
Lizard Woman is a cousin of Usbuki, the Great White
Lizard who lives in a cave behind Feather Falls.
Mooretown Ridge is part of Concow Maidu Indian
country.
___________________
Earth Paint Video
*
BOAT OF THE UNDINES/ A Ceramic Boat Sculpture by Eric Whollem
Boat of the Undines
1995
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white clay with leather cord
Private collection
8" x 14"
Photo by Donna Pioli
The Old Tradition of Ceramic Boats
Archaeology gives us many examples of ceramic boats and ships.
The above work is one example of the numerous clay boats I
have made over the years. Insofar as much of my ceramic work
leans towards aquatic symbolism, this was a natural development
in my art.
The above work incorporates stylized "shields" along the side of
the boat. They are held in place by leather cord.
________________________
See my online image gallery of CERAMIC SCULPTURES:
THE SWAN BOAT
oxides on white clay
by Eric Whollem
THE VIDEO BELOW
DEPICTS IMAGES OF MY CERAMIC SCULPTURES
FORMATTED ON FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS
ERIC WHOLLEM
KORE WITH BREAD/ A Figurative Ceramic Sculpture With Volcanic Earth From Mt. Shasta
Kore With Bread
1989by Eric Whollem
volcanic earth paint from Mt. Shasta and green raku glaze on white clay
Collection of the artist.
8"
Photo copyright by the artist.
Ceres Symbolized by a Kore
Ceres, the ancient Greek Goddess of grain is here represented
by my own modern version of a Greek Kore. Kore means
maiden in Greek. In allegorical art the kores were often used
as types to represent muses or Goddesses or spirits of nature.
CERES 1992/ digitally enhanced reed pen drawing in india ink
Ceres
1992-2009
by Eric Whollem
digital art
Copyright by the artist.
THE GODDESS OF GRAIN
Cereals are named after Ceres, the Goddess of Grain.
She is a symbol of plenty. I both sculpted and drew
this goddess in the1980's and early 1990's.
____________________________
View my online image gallery of DRAWINGS:
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
NONHESITANT ACME
by Eric Whollem
*
Abstract art, digital art, Ceres, mythology.
Friday, February 12, 2010
THE WHITE GODDESS/ A Serpent Goddess Sculpture Painted With White Granite Earth Paint
The White Goddess
1995
by Eric Whollem
white granite earth paint on white clay
Private collection.
5" x 4"
Photo copyright by the artist.
The White Virgin: First Aspect of the Goddess
Robert Graves wrote a famous book called
The White Goddess, concentrating on the
esoteric lore of the British Isles. However
the Greeks viewed the White Goddess as
an aspect of Aphrodite, the Triple Goddess.
Pandemos is her name. She is the virgin.
RED SNAKE GODDESS/ Mystery of the Sacred Serpent: A Figurative Ceramic Goddess Sculpture/ Bas Relief
Red Snake Goddess
1995
by Eric Whollem
red iron oxide in acrylic emulsion on white clay,
finished with temple ash (Vibhuti)
5.5" x 4"
Private collection.
photo copyright by the artist.
The second aspect of the Goddess is the Matron or Mother.
She symbolizes fertility and nurturing care. Red is traditionally
utilized in India to paint boulders sacred to the Goddess. The
colors of the Goddess are White, Red, and Black.
This is Marina, the second aspect of Aphrodite.
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See more posts about my CERAMIC SCULPTURE:
Ceramic Sculpture video
*
GRAY SNAKE GODDESS/ Mysteries of the Sacred Serpent: A Figurative Ceramic Goddess Sculpture/ Bas Relief
Gray Snake Goddess
1995
by Eric Whollem
dark pumice from Mt. Shasta on white clay
Private Collection
6" x 6"
Photo copyright by the artist.
The Mysteries of the Sacred Serpent
The serpent is a traditional symbol of initiation and enlightenment.
It is a symbol of healers. The watersnakes of old were set out by
priestesses to find sacred springs that were considered fonts of
oracular wisdom. The Naiads, or freshwater mermaids, were
always associated with the springs holy to the Goddess. The
Naiads were singers in the sacred choruses of the Mysteries.
This image of the Goddess represents the third aspect of
Aphrodite, the Crone. Her name is Urania.
___________________
See more about the GODDESS:
Ceramic Sculpture Video by Eric Whollem.
*
BIRD WOMAN/ Figurative Ceramic Goddess Sculpture
Bird Woman
1994by Eric Whollem
oxides on white clay
Private collection
11"
Photo copyright by the artist.
BIRD WOMAN 1992/ digitally enhanced india ink drawing
Bird Woman
1992-2009
by Eric Whollemdigital art saturation
Copyright by the artist
Bird Woman, The Ancient Goddess Archetype
I interject this goddess drawing to accompany images of
the Bird Woman sculptures that I was making in the 1990's.
Bird Woman shows the power of the shamaness to take flight.
BIRD PERSON 1992/ reed pen drawing using india inks on paper/ A Shamaness of the Dual Serpent
Bird Person1992
by Eric Whollem
india ink on paper
Collection of the artist.
6" x 9"
Copyright by the artist.
Bird as Mother of the Snakes
Bird Woman goes back to Cro Magnon times--to the era
of the cavewoman. The shamaness with every feather an eye.
*
Drawing, India ink, goddess, snake goddess, abstract art.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
PARVATI/ A Figurative Ceramic Goddess Sculpture Painted With Volcanic Pumice From Mt.Shasta
Parvati
1992
by Eric Whollem
pumice from Mt. Shasta on terracotta
Collection of the artist.
11"
Photo copyright by the artist.
A GODDESS OF THE HIMALAYAS
Parvati is an important Hindu Goddess. She is the consort of Shiva.
Insofar as she is associated with the Himalayas, it seemed appropriate
to color her with earth pigments that I gathered at Mt. Shasta. She is
called the Daughter of the Mountain.
_______________________
BELOW IS A VIDEO
THAT SHOWS MORE OF MY
GODDESS SCULPTURES
FEATURED AS A PART OF SOME OF MY
FAUX POSTAGE STAMP CREATIONS
ERIC WHOLLEM
MOTHER OF SERPENTS/ A Figurative Ceramic Goddess Sculpture Painted With Pumice From Mt. Shasta
Mother of Serpents
1992
by Eric Whollem
pumice from Mt. Shasta on white clay with copper
Collection of Michael Stratton
10"
Photo copyright by the artist.
The Metaphysical Symbolism of the Serpent
In the lore of the Goddess the serpent is very sacred. In ancient
times water snakes were released when people were looking for
a site to establish a temple. When the snake found a spring, that
site was chosen for the temple. Temples were established for
healing and dreaming. Temples used to be the hospitals of the
ancient world.
Red Snake Goddess
1995
by Eric Whollem
red iron oxide in
acrylic emulsion with Vibhuti
on white earthenware clay
Private collection
5.5" x 4"
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
The healing gods Aesculapius and Hygeia were both associated
with the serpent. The two serpents entwined on a staff are today
still a symbol of the medical profession.
Marija Gimbutas said that the coiled serpent was a water symbol.
Water is often considered a primary attribute of the Goddess
insofar as water is powerful, yet soft and malleable. Water also
is a symbol of emotions and feeling.
The White Goddess
1995
by Eric Whollem
white granite earth pigment on
white earthenware clay
Private collection
5" x 4"
PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Moses raised a brazen serpent in the wilderness to guide the
Israelites in their wanderings. In the New Testament it is said:
"Be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves."
In India, the serpent energy is called Kundalini Yoga, a basic
practice for illumination.
A sculpture video by Eric Whollem, 2011
THIS VIDEO PRESENTS A VARIETY OF MY
CERAMIC GODDESS SCULPTURES IN THE
FORMAT OF FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS
____________
Readers interested in my Ceramic Sculpture may want to see these posts:
This sheet of Poster Stamps shows the variety of sculptures
that I have created; the multicolored pieces
best reflect the use of my
earth paints.
My posts on the topic of the Goddess can be found here:
My articles that deal with Earth Paints can be found on these posts:
If attracted to the lore of Mt. Shasta you can find what I have to say here:
ATARGATIS/ The Starwhale: Goddess of Dolphins/ A Figurative Ceramic Sculpture Painted With Natural Earth Paints
Atargatis
1992
by Eric Whollem
earth paints on terracotta
Private collection.
14"
Photo copyright by the artist.
THE MOTHER OF THE ZODIAC
"The Mother of the Zodiac" was just one designation of Atargatis, the
ancient goddess of the Near East.
Her name means literally Star Whale. Derceto is her Babylonian
prototype. She also relates to Tara of Tibet and India.
The Greeks called the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Goats; these "goats"
were, in fact, the dolphins, the goats of the sea--playful beings.
The Babylonian god Ea, was anciently depicted with a goat's body
and a fish tail. He was a prototypical dolphin spirit. Interestingly
enough in Chinese astrology the sign Capricorn is the Dolphin.
I gave my sculpture of Atargatis goat's horns to symbolize her
connection to the Sea Ram, her husband, also known as Dagon,
the merman. This sculpture is painted with earth paints that I
gathered myself.
Atargatis was associated with the dolphins, and also was worshipped
at shrines with fish pools in the arid deserts of what became Palestine
in later times.
________________________
See my complete online image gallery of CERAMIC SCULPTURE:
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
CERAMIC FIGURINES
by Eric Whollem
*
Mythology, anthropology, mermaids, Star Whale.
WINDOW OF THE GODDESS/ A Figurative Ceramic Wallpiece Painted With Natural Ash Paint
Window of the Goddess
2003by Eric Whollem
filtered wood ash in acrylic emulsion on white clay
Private collection.
Photo copyright by the artist.
Ceramic Wallpieces
Light and shadow are basic in appreciation of bas relief
sculpture. This wallpiece was colorized with some of my
own homemade paints.
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