EARTH PAINTS WITH BEESWAX/ Earth Paintings by Eric Whollem/ 'Honey of the Earth' 1987/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ Encaustic Painting

HONEY OF THE EARTH

1987

by Eric Whollem

earth pigments, beeswax, on a panel prepared with

gesso and earth pigments in acrylic emulsion

Collection of the artist

10" x 8"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

ENCAUSTIC PAINTING

PAINTING WITH HOT BEESWAX

In my creation of paints made from natural earths, charcoal,

and ash I have also included such materials as wood chips,

small ant-gathered quartz crystals, mica flakes and other

materials from nature.

Binders that I have used over the years include casein, or milk

glue, acrylic emulsion, polyvinyl emulsion, and beeswax as you

can see in the case of the painting seen here.

Encaustic painting is a name given to the art of painting with

hot wax. The murals at Pompeii are famous examples of wax

paintings. This medium has a high longevity, as wax acts as

a natural preservative. Greeks and Egyptians were also well

known for their encaustic paintings.

__________________________

Readers interested in learning more about my EARTH PAINTS should see these posts:

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

THE VIDEO BELOW

TELLS MORE ABOUT MY

EARTH PAINTINGS

ERIC WHOLLEM       

See my online image gallery of EARTH PAINTINGS:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE 

BROTHERS

by Eric Whollem

                             

MENTAL ELECTRICITY/ Figurative Expressionism by Eric Whollem/ A mixed media resist painting

MENTAL ELECTRICITY

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

11" x 8.5"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE FIRE OF MIND

The functions of the mind are considered to be electrical phenomena by a

number of metaphysical thinkers. For example, Alice A. Bailey, in her

book, 'A Treatise on Cosmic Fire,' expounds at great length on the

electricity of the mind. She is a Theosophical thinker who was one of

the mothers of the New Age movement.

Much of Abstract Expressionism from the 1950's was based on Zen Buddhist

art. But in understanding figurative expressionism, it is possible to take other

approaches in appreciating the philosophical basis of the art.

_______________________

See more of my posts that talk about THEOSOPHY:

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

See my posts on FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

THE GUNAS

by Eric Whollem

CONCOW MAIDU TRADITIONS/ With Fantasy Stamps by Eric Whollem/ A Youtube Video Presentation/ FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS BY ERIC WHOLLEM

THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE

Maidem Kodom

2010

by Eric Whollem

virtual stamp

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The Voice of the Turtle

The Concow Maidu Indians are divided into a number of tribal groups,

which include the Tyme, the Mooretown Rancheria, the Enterprise

Rancheria, the Konkow Valley Band of Maidu and the Mechoopda.

Turtle is one of the most important figures in traditional Maidu legend.

His name is Ultrama. He sailed on a raft in an ocean at the beginning of

time accompanied by Wonomi, the World Maker, and Henokano, the

Trickster.

Turtle dove into the sea where he brought up mud from the bottom. This

mud became the earth and all the beings that inhabit it today.

The video below uses faux postage stamps created by myself to tell us

a bit about the culture of the Maidu.

CONCOW MAIDU TRADITIONS

by Eric Whollem

Among the cultural topics addressed in this video is that of

'The Doctor at the Center of the World' which is my own

designation of Wonomi, the World Maker, or Earth Initiate,

who lives at Histayami.

Also Kuksu, the first man, who is the focus of the tradtitional Maidu

dream religion is included. Also 'Netdim Kakinim' or dream spirits~

and Ultrama, the Turtle. And 'ooti' the acorn. Plus the 'hemeni' or

sacred roundhouse.

________________________

See my posts that tell more about each of my MAIDEM KODOM stamps:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/maidem%20kodom

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

DREAM SPIRITS

by Eric Whollem

The posts below present my art that relates to CONCOW MAIDU CULTURE:

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

HETEROGENOUS COMPOSITION WITH BASKETS/ A Figurative Abstraction by Eric Whollem/ MIXED MEDIA PAINTING

HETEROGENOUS COMPOSITION WITH BASKETS

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

9" x 6"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

_____________________________

View more of my ABSTRACT ART:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

THE BASKET BEARERS

by Eric Whollem

See more posts of my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS:

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

BELOW IS A VIDEO

SHOWING SOME OF MY

WHIMSICAL ABSTRACTIONS

ERIC WHOLLEM                                            

*

FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONIST PAINTING/ 'Forms Spiritual' by Eric Whollem/ Notes on Kandinsky/ A PICTOGRAPHIC FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

FORMS SPIRITUAL

1984

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

9" x 6"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

NOTES ON KANDINSKY'S PIONEERING ROLE IN ART

When Kandinsky wrote his book, 'On the Spiritual in Art,'

he set a precedent that has influenced much of modern art. He

maintained that abstract forms and colors in of themselves

contain a spiritual message and meaning.

Kandinsky is considered by some as the father of abstract

painting. Organic, geometric, and expressionistic art were

all explored in Kandinsky's pioneering work at the Bauhaus.

___________________

See my posts on KANDINSKY:

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

THE VIDEO

BELOW DEPICTS A

VARIETY OF MY GEOMETRIC

ABSTRACTIONS

ERIC WHOLLEM                                       

See also my posts on SPIRITUALITY:

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

*

CRONOS/ Figurative Expressionism/ MIXED MEDIA PAINTING by Eric Whollem

 

CRONOS

1986

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

15" x 10"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CRONOS

This mixed media work utilizes gouache paints in conjunction

with parafin resist. Cronos is an ancient designation of the Greek god Saturn.

_____________________________

See more posts about my FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM:

http://artblogerichwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/figurative%20expressionism

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

DANCING COLOR

by Eric Whollem

BELOW IS A VIDEO

FEATURING MORE OF

MY FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONIST

WORKS

ERIC WHOLLEM                                               

SHAMANISTIC ART/ 'Doctor Country' by Eric Whollem/ A Pictographic Abstraction/ CONTEMPORARY FIGURATIVE ART

DOCTOR COUNTRY

1986

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

15" x 10"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

SHAMANISTIC ART

This painting, painted in a pictographic style, depicts a 'doctor' or

shaman. Shamans in cultures across the globe have for innumerable

centuries been regarded as healers.

This painting shows the shaman's powers. Near the central figure of

the doctor is his retort where he grinds his medicines.

______________________________

See my posts on SHAMANISM:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

THE BEETLE

mixed media on paper

by Eric Whollem

CELESTIAL COUNTRY/ 'The Valley of Heaven' /Artistic rendering of concepts from Concow Maidu Indian culture/ FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM

CELESTIAL COUNTRY

1986

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

15" x 10"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE VALLEY OF HEAVEN

This work is an abstract rendering of a concept from Concow Maidu

Indian culture: The Valley of Heaven. This realm is called Hipiningkodom

by the Maidu. It is a name also given to the Sacramento Valley in Northern

California by the Maidu.

This figurative expressionist work utilizes forms found in pictographic and

petroglyphic art. The prehistorical arts of California have long been of

artistic interest to me in the pursuit of my art.

_______________________

See my posts on MAIDU INDIAN CULTURE:

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

See my online image gallery of ABSTRACT ART:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

EARTH MOTHER

earth paints on  panel

by Eric Whollem

BELOW IS A VIDEO

THAT RELATES TO THE

CONCOW MAIDU

SPIRIT ANIMALS OF THE CONCOW MAIDU                 

by Eric Whollem                                     

DREAM STAMPS OF GHOST BEAR/ Faux Postage Stamps by Eric Whollem/ CONCOW MAIDU CULTURAL CONCEPTS: THE BASIS OF VIRTUAL STAMPS

GHOST BEAR

Maidem Kodom

2010

by Eric Whollem

virtual stamp

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

DREAM STAMPS OF GHOST BEAR

Ghost Bear is featured on these fantasy stamp issues from
Maidem Kodom, which is my own fanciful name for a Maidu
Indian postal authority. Such a postal service does not, of
course exist; for these are examples of faux postage stamps, or
artist stamps, or artistamps as they are called.

I used to dream of a small she bear with whom I would fly in
my dreams. We would travel to caves. The walls of these caves
were covered with paintings done with earth paints. These
dreams occured when I lived at Chi Chi Te, or Black Earth
Village, in Feather Falls, which is an area in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains of Northern California.

Dreaming is highly respected by the Concow Maidu Indians.
It is the basis of their traditional religion, called Kuksu. See
my link below to learn more about Kuksu:

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

GHOST BEAR

Maidem Kodom

2010

by Eric Whollem

virtual stamp

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The black bear is a medicine animal of the Maidu. In the old

days the healing shamans would often dress in bear robes when

they cured people of their sicknesses.

See my posts about the MAIDU INDIANS:

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

GHOST BEAR

Maidem Kodom

Mooretown Provisional Postage

2010

by Eric Whollem

virtual stamp sheet

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Mooretown Ridge is the place where one can find Feather Falls, which

is both the designation of a town and a waterfall. The town today is

centered near the Gold Flake Bar on Lumpkin Road. Mooretown was

originally the name of a logging company town, now gone.

For many years there was another small logging town called

Feather Falls up at the end of Lumpkin Road. Now this is gone.

Camp Eighteen was another logging town going  up towards

Fall River, also now a part of the past.

The Mooretown Rancheria used to be located at Chi Chi Te on

Lumpkin Road. But Chi Chi Te went back into private ownership

a number of years ago. But there is a modern 'Mooretown Rancheria'

now down in the valley in Oroville, which is a contemporary Maidu

rancheria with a large and progressive Casino.

See my posts about FEATHER FALLS:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/Feather%20Falls

NOTES ABOUT MOORETOWN PROVISIONAL POSTAGE

My fantasy stamps include the historical name of Mooretown, which

I have taken the artistic liberty of using  for my Maidu faux postage

postal system: Mooretown Provisional Postage. This is a fictional

postal system, of course. I am in no way connected officially with the

Mooretown Rancheria. These stamps are purely artistic fantasy.

Provisional Postage is defined by stamp collectors as postage used

where and when there is no mail delivery and local people take up the

burden of mail delivery. There is a history of  real provisional postal issues;

however these stamps are virtual, or imaginary stamps.

_____________________________

Readers interested in seeing more of my MAIDEM KODOM STAMPS should check out:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/maidem%20kodom

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

SUMI MAIDEM KAKINI

by Eric Whollem

BELOW IS A VIDEO

THAT PRESENTS A FEW OF

MY MAIDU FANTASY STAMPS

SPIRIT ANIMALS OF THE CONCOW MAIDU                  

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ 'Concow Noon' by Eric Whollem/ A Pictographic Abstraction

CONCOW NOON

1984

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of Rita Repace

9" x 6"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

_________________________

See my online image gallery of ABSTRACT ART:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

THE JEWEL DESERT

by Eric Whollem

My blog posts of FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS:

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

THE VIDEO BELOW

SHOWS MORE OF MY

ABSTRACT ART

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS by Eric Whollem            

FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM/ 'Celestial Pumice' by Eric Whollem/ An Evocation of the Volcanic Mileau/ CONTEMPORARY PICTOGRAPHIC ART

CELESTIAL PUMICE

1986

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

15" x 10"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

AN EVOCATION OF THE VOLCANIC MILEAU

Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen are two volcanic mountains which I have

visited many times over the years. 'Celestial Pumice' is a work, that

pays tribute to the spiritual energy of these mountains.

Mt. Shasta, in particular, has been focus of numerous pilgrimmages

on my part. I used to live up there as a child. . . in the communities

of Dunsmuir and Yreka.

BELOW IS A VIDEO

THAT TELLS MORE ABOUT MY USE

OF VOLCANIC PUMICE AS PAINT FOR

MY ART

                                     ERIC WHOLLEM

Many of the earth paints that I have made from natural earthen materials

come from the Mt. Shasta area. But the Lassen lava flows extend as far

south as Butte County, where mountains such as Table Mountain, near

Oroville, California,  has provided other volcanic ore, some of which

also has been utilized for paint.

_____________________

View my online image gallery of ABSTRACT PAINTINGS:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

SCRIPT OF THE SEA

by Eric Whollem

BELOW IS A VIDEO THAT

DEPICTS MORE

OF MY ART

 

 ERIC WHOLLEM

See my posts on EARTH PAINTS:

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

PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION/ 'Archaic Emanations' by Eric Whollem/ MODERN FIGURATIVE ART

ARCHAIC EMANATIONS

1984

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

21" x 15 "

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

____________________________

BELOW IS A VIDEO THAT

DEALS WITH MY

APPROACHES TO

PICTOGRAPHS AND PETROGLYPHS

IN MY ART

                                                                                                                                                     ERIC WHOLLEM

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

THE BEETLE

mixed media on paper

by Eric Whollem

See my online image gallery of ABSTRACT ART:

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

EXPRESSIONISTIC DRAWING/ 'Counterdirections' by Eric Whollem/ Pictographic Abstraction

COUNTERDIRECTIONS

1984

by Eric Whollem

India ink on paper

9" x 6"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

____________________________

See my online posts of DRAWINGS:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

 

COUNTERPOINT IN BLACK GRAY AND WHITE

by Eric Whollem

THE PORTAL OF THE SEASKY/ A Mermaid Art Video by Eric Whollem/ Faux postage mermaid stamps from Amphora/ DIGITAL ART/ Cinderella stamps by Eric Whollem

THE SEA ROYALTY

The Empire of Amphora

2012

by Eric Whollem

virtual stamp

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE PORTAL OF THE SEASKY

The stamp above is just one of many new issues from the Empire

of Amphora to be seen on my new mermaid art video, 'The Portal

of the Seasky.' This faux postage stamp celebrates the many fantasy

mermaid kingdoms and their Sea Royalty.

       THE PORTAL OF THE SEASKY by Eric Whollem

_____________________

Readers interested in MERMAIDS should view my posts:

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

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

TOUCHING THE BROW OF NEPTUNE

by Eric Whollem

digital art

See my posts of AMPHORAN FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS:

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