THE SEAL'S SUPPER/ A mermaid drawing by Eric Whollem/ India ink, collage with cut paper/ A whimsical figurative abstraction

              The Seal's Supper

              2002

              by Eric Whollem

              India ink, cut paper collage

              Collection of the artist

              4" x 3"

 

                                                                                                 

A Whimsical Collage

This work depicts my muse, Madge, in her mermaid form, feeding

fish to some rather overweight seals. I describe Madge as the Goddess

of Imagination. She dwells on the Isle of Cantharidia.

I have developed a line of fantasy stamps for Cantharidia, which can

be seen on the links below.

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See more of my COLLAGE ART on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/collage%20art

Those interested in MERMAID ART should view my posts:

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

MERMAIDS AMONG THE BLOSSOMS

Eric Whollem

digital art

My posts on THE MUSE can be accessed here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20muse

See my CANTHARIDIAN FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS here:

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

BELOW ARE SOME SAMPLE

IMAGES OF MY

CANTHARIDIAN STAMPS

(copyright by the artist)

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

SAVE OUR BUTTERFLIES

THE SELKIE

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Collage art/ abstract art.

IMAGES COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

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CINDERELLA SOUVENIR SHEET/ Undinian Faux Postage Map Stamp by Eric Whollem/ A micronational issue sponsored by the Undinian Postal Mission & Post Office of the Navy/ CYBERSTAMPS from the Undinian National Office of Cartography/ More Virtual Stamps from the Royal Post Offices & Wharfside Telegraph in Nereidia

A Map of Undinia

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

A Special Souvenir Edition of

THE UNDINIAN POSTAL MISSION

2010

A Map of Undinia

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

A Map of Undinia Sponsored by the Post Office of the Undinian Navy

The Royal Undinian Navy's Office of Cartography developed the

map seen on this issue from the Undinian Postal Service, otherwise

known as the Undinian Postal Mission.

Undinia is one of the numerous micronations that I have created

over the years. See the Wikipedia link below for more information

on the subject of micronations.

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See more stamps from UNDINIA on this link:

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

Those readers interested in my micronational fantasy MAPS for my stamp-issuing realms should see:

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

See more posts of CINDERELLA STAMPS on this link:

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

A definition of MICRONATIONS:

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

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ARTIST STAMPS

Artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps,

fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art,

micronation stamps, virtual stamps,

digital art.

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MERMAID & SEA HORSE FAUX POSTAGE/ Cyberstamps from the micronation of Undinia/ CINDERELLA STAMPS by Eric Whollem/ 'Hippocampus'/ An artistamp issued for the Undinian Mermaid Philatelic Agency: 'Approved for Stamp Duty by the Admiralty of the Royal Undinian Navy'/ THE ROYAL WHARFSIDE POST OFFICE & TELEGRAPH of the Undinian Postal Service

The Mermaid and the Sea Horse

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Mermaid Faux Postage Stamps

UNDINIAN POSTAL SERVICE

2010

The Mermaid and the Sea Horse

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

A SPECIAL ISSUE OF

THE UNDINIAN MERMAID PHILATELIC AGENCY

The Mermaid and the Sea Horse

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

The Mermaid and the Sea Horse

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The Mermaid and the Sea Horse

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The Mermaid and the Sea Horse

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

A Souvenir Edition of the

ROYAL WHARFSIDE POST OFFICE

&

TELEGRAPH

The Mermaid and the Sea Horse

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

More stamps from UNDINIA can be seen on the posts on this link:

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

BELOW ARE A FEW SAMPLE

STAMPS FROM UNDINIA

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

 

Those interested in my posts on MERMAIDS should see:

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

THIS VIDEO IS FOR SEA HORSE

LOVERS

Seahorse stamps from Amphora.                  

My complete archive of FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS can be accessed here:

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

BELOW ARE MORE MERMAID

STAMP VIDEOS

Angelica Sea Salt Stamps

from Undinia

Stamps from Merreminde

Mermaid stamp video.                     

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ARTIST STAMPS

Cinderella stamps, faux postage, mail art,

artistamps, cyberstamps,

micronation stamps,

virtual stamps;

digital art; collage art.

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APHRODITE/ Artistamps from a mermaid micronation/ A cinderella CYBERSTAMP souvenir sheet/ FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS by Eric Whollem/ The Undinian Postal Mission celebrates the Festival of the Priestesses & Hierophants

Aphrodite

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Aphrodite

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

A Special Souvenir Edition

THE ROYAL POST OFFICES

&

WHARFSIDE TELEGRAPH

Aphrodite

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

THE UNDINIAN POSTAL MISSION
Post Office of the Undinian Navy

2010

Aphrodite

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The Festival of the Priestesses and Hierophants

The Aphrodesian Mystery Temple of Undinia has a yearly religious

festival in Nereidia, the capital city of Undinia. The Goddess Aphrodite

is worshipped in sacred processions that last for days. Markets are

set up in the city square where the vendors sell foodstuffs geared to the

aquatic tastes of the mermaid population of Undinia. Artisans sell

their wares. Music by the most popular performers of Mermaid Radio,

Television and Movie Screen are seen on stages set about the city.

This set of  stamps will be issued on the day of the beginning of the

rites and celebrations. Already the Naval Post Office fears that it will

sell out before every mermaid stamp collector has had a chance to

purchase a sheet. The price of the sheet is 109 f. This figure is given

in Undinian currency. See the United Aethernet Nations Table of

Monetary Exchange Rates for approximate valuation in a currency

with which you are familiar. These exchange rates are available

through the auspices of the Amphoran Postal Union.

THE CONTINENT OF AMPHORA

Undinia is a nation in the northeast of the continent of Amphora.

Other nations on this continent include Amphitritonia, Merreminde

and Delphys. All these states are member nations of the Amphoran

Postal Union.

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See more stamps from UNDINIA on this link:

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

Those interested in the UNITED AETHERNET NATIONS should see these posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/aethernet%20stamps

The stamps of AMPHORA may be viewed here:

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

See posts on MERREMINDE here:

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

The issues of AMPHITRITONIA can be found on this link:

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

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ARTIST STAMPS

Artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps,

faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps,

virtual stamps, digital art.

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ABSTRACT PAINTING/ 'The Mirror of Persephone' by Eric Whollem/ Figurative abstraction/ MYTHOGRAPHIC ART/ The Eleusinian Mysteries/ Persephone and Eros/ THE INITIATE

     

                The Mirror of Persephone

                2001

                by Eric Whollem

                mixed media on paper

                Collection of the artist

                11" x 8.5"

                                                                                                 COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Persephone and Eros

The Eleusinian Mysteries were one of the principal religious systems
of ancient Greece. Other mystery schools existed, but the rites of
Delphi at Olympus were the most widely revered.

Originally the religious center at Delphi was maintained by the
matriarchal hierarchy. There was a huge serpent that lived on the
site, called the Python. This serpent was slain by the Achaen invaders
who entered Greece, establishing a patriarchal overseership of the
temple complex.


THE DESCENT OF PERSEPHONE

Persephone was the archetypical Initiate to spiritual wisdom. In the
fragments that come down to us from antiquity, there is the legend of
how she in her descent into the Abyssos, met Eros in the form of a flower.
The face in the golden flower in my painting above gives my own artistic
version of the vision of Eros.

In viewing this vision as a physical actuality, Persephone is said to have
failed her initiatory trials.

I depict Persephone as a mermaid, in keeping with the tradtions of the
Greek colonists of Calabria.

_____________

Readers interested in reading more about Persephone's INITIATION should see my posts:

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

My posts on the topic of MERMAIDS can be accessed here:

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

BELOW IS A
FAUX POSTAGE STAMP
FEATURING MY ART
DEPICTING PERSEPHONE 

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

THE DESCENT OF PERSEPHONE

Those interested in my posts of ABSTRACT PAINTINGS should check out:

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

FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS VIDEO
by Eric Whollem

My posts on MYTHOGRAPHIC ART are on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/mythographic%20art

See Wikipedia for more about Persephone:

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

See this article on the ACHAENS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaens

MYTHOLOGY

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ABSTRACT PAINTING/ 'Synthesia' by Eric Whollem/ A figurative abstraction/ METAPHYSICAL ART/ A mixed media work on paper/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

                                

                                    Synthesia

                                    1998

                                    by Eric Whollem

                                    mixed media on paper

                                    Collection of the artist

                                    6" x 9"

                                                        COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Synthesia: the Interfusion of the Senses

This work, entitled 'Synthesia,' is an allegorical representation

of the concept of the interfusion of the senses. In metaphysical

systems such as Zen Buddhism, there is an emphasis on the

merging of the senses into a unified harmony. Smell, taste,

touch, etc. all merge in one-pointed meditation.

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See my complete online gallery of ABSTRACT PAINTINGS on this link:

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

Those who wish to view my approaches to figurative abstraction in digital art as well as painting, might want to see:

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

View my posts on METAPHYSICAL ART here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/metaphysical%20art

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ABSTRACT FIGURE PAINTING
Contemporary Painting

ABSTRACT PAINTING/ Mixed media on paper/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ 'The Gamblers' by Eric Whollem/ Figurative Abstraction

  

     The Gamblers

     1985

     by Eric Whollem

     mixed media on paper

     Collection of the artist

     9" x 6"

                    COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

A Whimsical Figurative Abstraction

In the process of thinking of illustrations for my novel 'Rainbeetle,'

I designed this image of two drunken gamblers. Those interested in

viewing my online posts of abstract paintings should see the links

below.

_____________

Readers interested in my ongoing references to RAINBEETLE should see:

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

This link will take you to my posts of ABSTRACT PAINTINGS:

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

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Contemporary painting

GODDESS AMULETS/ Ceramic Sculptures by Eric Whollem/ Notes on Marija Gimbutas/ MYTHOGRAPHIC ART/ Miniature pendants in clay/ WEARABLE ART

Goddess With a Leaf

2006

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay

2.5"

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Earth Goddess Amulet

TWO VIEWS

2006

by Eric Whollem

copper carbonate and oxides on white earthenware clay

2.5"

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Ocean Mother

2006

by Eric Whollem

oxides and found earth on white earthenware clay

2.5"

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Goddess Amulets in Clay

The Goddess has been represented in art for thousands of years.

Marija Gimbutas, author of the book, Language of the Goddess,

which came out in the 1980's, is one of the world's leading authorities

on Goddess art. Her work was highly praised by Joseph Campbell

and Ashley Montague. I had the good fortune to have met her

at a convention of the Society for California Archaeology in the

early 1990's. She viewed an exhibit of my clay amulets there,

remarking that some of my work had an archaic Romanian flavor.

It will be obvious to many that my work also treats of the

iconography of the Venus of Wollendorf, as well.

Clay amulets, or pendants, are among the art forms known in

abundance from antiquity. The Goddess is featured prominently

among them.

Agape

2005

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay

2.25"

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Agape

Agape means 'understanding' in Greek.

This miniature sculpture has been enlarged considerably for

viewing on the computer screen. Having been a 'rock hound'

since I was a child, I have always attempted to give my

sculptures a rough appearance similar to that found in

natural minerals.

_______________

Read about Marija Gimbutas on this link:

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marija_Gimbutas

See my posts about the GODDESS here:

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

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BIRD MAN AMULET/ Figurative Ceramic Shamanic Sculpture by Eric Whollem/ Oxides on white earthenware clay/ Mythographic Abstraction

 Bird Man

2004

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay

2"

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Textures in Groggy Clay

As I most frequently utilize 'sculpture mix' clay to create my

ceramic sculptures, I find that the rough texture of the clay

can often add an interesting surface to the final work.

The brands I use most are Laguna or Imco Clay. . .either

white or terracotta. Other red clays, such as Laguna Hawaiian

Red has proven interesting to work with.

This piece was colored with ceramic oxides, burnished to

bring out the texture of the clay body.

BIRD MAN

Mythically Bird Man is represented in the Japanese figure

called the Tengu. He is also found in the petroglyphic arts

of Easter Island.

Basically my Bird Man is a shamanic figure. The shaman

is traditionally attributed with the powers of magical

flight. . .penetration into the astral dimension.

Bird Woman is well known as a shamanic archetype in the

Goddess traditions of Europe.

________________

Readers intersested in my posts on SHAMANISM can find them on this link:

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

See my CERAMIC AMULETS here:

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

My posts on MYTHOLOGY can be accessed here:

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

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MERMAID AMULET/ Abstract Ceramic Goddess Sculpture by Eric Whollem/ WEARABLE ART/ Oxides on white earthenware clay

Undine

2005

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay

2.5"

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Undine

An undine is an aquatic nature spirit or a mermaid.

This sculpture renders the theme in a decidedly abstract

manner. I find that frequently my miniature sculptures

are quite freeing. Done quickly and informally they often

provide me with surprises, whereas a larger sculpture

can frequently be more limited, insofar as the weight

and drying time involved in clay work gives the artist

many more limitations. Smaller work has it's limitations

as well. No size factor is ultimate. Everything has it's

purpose, intentional and unintentional.

_________

See more of my CERAMIC SCULPTURES on this link:

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