AUTUMN SUITE
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
9" x 6"
COLLECTION OF CALVIN SANDBORN
Copyrihght by the artist
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See more of my ABSTRACT ART:
Whimsical Abstractions Video.
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Sunday, September 18, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Notes on Kandinsky and the Origins of Abstract Art/ 'AGGREGATION OF THE RAYS'/ Gestural Abstract Expressionism by Eric Whollem, 1985/ CONTEMPORARY PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION
AGGREGATION OF THE RAYS
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
9" x 6"
COLLECTION OF THE ARTIST
Copyright by the artist
THE RAYS
In metaphysical parlance, the 'rays' are reckoned as the general
proclivities of human beings, typified usually in color symbolism.
For example the Violet Ray is the ray of healers.
These terms originated in Theosophy, but are in general use today
among 'New Age' thinkers.
Theosophical literature was catalytic in the development of modern
art, having had as it's champion, Wassily Kandinsky, one of the
generally alleged founders of abstract art. He was a Theosophist
who was influenced by the book, 'Thought Forms' by Leadbeater
and Besant. This book had highly abstract color plates, which
demonstrated how geometric shapes and colors combined create
mental images to convey thought and emotion.
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See my posts on THEOSOPHICAL THOUGHT:
Read my posts on KANDINSKY:
See my articles on EXPRESSIONISM:
Whimsical Abstractions Video by Eric Whollem.
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
BEAUTIFUL PARKLANDS/ A whimsical abstraction by Eric Whollem, 1986/ Concow Maidu Placenames/ MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER/ Modern Pictographic Art
BEAUTIFUL PARKLANDS
1986
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
9" x 6"
COLLECTION OF THE ARTIST
Copyright by the artist
CONCOW MAIDU PLACENAMES
This painting, entitled 'Beautiful Parklands' was named thinking
of the Concow Maidu placename designation, 'Concow,' which
means 'beautiful parklands.' I used to live in Concow Valley in
the lower reaches of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Butte County,
California.
I also lived at Black Earth Village, or Chi Chi Te, in the Feather
Falls area of Butte County. This was in association with a Maidu
family. Butte County is the traditional territory of the Concow
Maidu Indians.
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See more about the MAIDU INDIANS:
Concow Maidu Culture Video.
Readers may be interested in seeing more of my FIGURGATIVE ABSTRACTIONS:
Whimsical Abstractions Video.
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Monday, September 12, 2011
CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION/ 'Kakini' and 'Kuksu and the Lamb' by Eric Whollem/ Earth paints on panel/ COLLECTION OF HERB PUFFER
KUKSU AND THE LAMB
1981
by Eric Whollem
earth pigmnents, charcoal, acrylic emulsion on panel
COLLECTION OF HERB PUFFER
Copyright by the artist
KAKINI
1981
by Eric Whollem
earth pigments in acrylic emulsion on panel
8" x 10"
COLLECTION OF HERB PUFFER
Copyright by the artist
CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION
The Concow Maidu Indians of Butte County, California, have a
very esoteric religion; it is based on a secret society. This was
a new concept in early California, to have an organized religion
based on mystery.
Kuksu is the name of the first man and also is the designation of
the Concow Maidu religion.
The secret society is a dream lodge. Practioners go through initiation
into the world of the dream. Dreams are the basis of foreknowledge
and wisdom. The head shaman is called 'yeponi.'
Spirit beings are referred to as the 'kakinim' (plural) by the Maidu.
A 'kakini,' as fancifully depicted in the painting above, is my own artistic
rendering of such a spirit. I purposely utilized a cross form for the
kakini, as the Maidu today are predominantly Christian. 'Kuksu and the
Lamb' similarly utilizes the cross form to indicate the predominant
spiritual inclination of the modern Maidu, who despite the shamanic
dream religion of their ancestors, have assimilated the ethic of the
European migrants who superimposed ways of thinking on their
archetypical culture.
These paintings are ones purchased by Herb Puffer, from Pacific Western
Traders in Folsom, California. Mr. Puffer is one of the leading
promoters of the arts among the Native American cultures of
California. He invited me to exhibit at his establishment in Folsom
back in the 1980's, after I had shown a painting in the Crocker
Art Museum in Sacramento; that painting was entitled, 'Dance of
the Kuksu.' It appears in the video below:
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See more posts about the MAIDU:
See more of my EARTH PAINTINGS:
Earth Paints Video.
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Sunday, September 11, 2011
FORMS FROM THE NEW PLANET/ Mixed media painting by Eric Whollem, 1985/ FIGURATIVE PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION
FORMS FROM THE NEW PLANET
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
9" x 6"
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Copyright by the artist
______________________________
See more FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS on this link:
Figurative Abstractions Video.
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Saturday, September 10, 2011
HOUSE OF THE CACTUS/ Earth paint, casein, & watercolor on paper/ A VISIONARY ABSTRACTION BY ERIC WHOLLEM
HOUSE OF THE CACTUS
1974
by Eric Whollem
earth pigments, casein, and watercolor on paper
10" x 10"
COLLECTION OF ANTONIO REYES
Copyright by the artist
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See more posts about my use of EARTH PAINTS:
Earth Painting Video by Eric Whollem.
See my posts about VISIONARY ART:
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Friday, September 9, 2011
EARTH PAINTS/ 'Old Man of the Earth' by Eric Whollem, 1979/ Natural earth pigments on panel/ EARTH PAINTINGS BY ERIC WHOLLEM/ Contemporary Art
OLD MAN OF THE EARTH
1979
by Eric Whollem
earth pigments on panel
8" x 10"
COLLECTION OF LAURA PINE
Copyright by the artist
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See more posts of my EARTH PAINTINGS on this link:
Earth Paintings Video.
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
NEW OLYNTHOS/ A pictographic abstraction delineating the constellations of space/ CONTEMPORARY ART BY ERIC WHOLLEM
NEW OLYNTHOS
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
9" x 6"
COLLECTION BETTY A. LOPEZ
Copyright by the artist
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See more ABSTRACT ART on these posts:
Pictographic Abstractions Video by Eric Whollem.
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Wednesday, September 7, 2011
PREHISTORIC CALIFORNIA ROCK ART~Inspiration for Modern Art/ 'Verdant' by Eric Whollem, 1984/ CONTEMPORARY PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION
VERDANT
1984
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
9" x 6"
COLLECTION OF SUE SHERIDAN
Copyright by the artist
PREHISTORIC CALIFORNIA ROCK ART
Inspiration for Modern Art
The Native Americans of early California left us with a heritage
of a vast array of abstract art images engraved on the bedrock
of the state.
The painting above, 'Verdant,' exemplifies the geometric style
found througout the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 'Verdant,' like
most of my rock art inspired works is not a copy of an ancient
work, but an original composition based on an old style, which
appears quite modern.
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See more PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTIONS on these posts:
Pictographic Abstractions Video.
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
'FAIRYLAND Faux Postage Stamps'/ A fantasy stamp video by Eric Whollem/ VIRTUAL STAMPS FROM A FAIRY MICRONATION/ Cinderella Stamps by Eric Whollem
Meggie Fay
FAIRYLAND POST OFFICE
2011
by Eric Whollem
a virtual stamp
Copyright by the artist
Fairyland Faux Postage Stamps Video
VIRTUAL STAMPS FROM A FAIRY MICRONATION
This edition of stamps from Fairyland consists of some 'virtual'
stamps, or stamps that exist only as computer file.
Meggie Fay and The Fairy Fly are the names of the two stamps
seen in my recent stamp video.
The 'Pix' is the monetary unit of Fairyland. Both of these stamps
are denominated at eleven Pix. The stamps are ostenisibly
printed by the 'Cinderella Printing House, Ltd.' which is an
imaginary printing company for these imaginary stamps.
The Fairy Fly
FAIRYLAND POST OFFICE
2011
by Eric Whollem
a virtual stamp
Copyright by the artist
________________
See more STAMP VIDEOS on this link:
BELOW IS ANOTHER
FAIRYLAND
STAMP
VIDEO
ERIC WHOLLEM
These posts present more stamps from FAIRYLAND:
Meggie Fay Stamp Sheet
FAIRYLAND POST OFFICE
2011
by Eric Whollem
virtual stamps
Copyright by the artist
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Monday, September 5, 2011
NIGHT GARDEN OF THE PHARAOH/ Figurative Expressionism/ Modern Art by Eric Whollem
NIGHT GARDEN OF THE PHARAOH
1986
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
9" x 6"
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Copyright by the artist
A MYTHOPOETIC EVOCATION OF THE NILE
This painting fancifully recreates a pleasure garden of
an Egyptian king. Pictographic renditions of palm trees
are interspersed with geometric symbols.
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See more of my FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM:
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Sunday, September 4, 2011
SPIRIT ANIMALS/ A visionary figurative abstraction by Eric Whollem, 1985/ CONTEMPORARY ART/ Shamanic Iconography
SPIRIT ANIMALS
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
9" x 6"
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Copyright by the artist
SPIRIT ANIMALS
Shamans in cultures the world over hold the voice of nature
in highest regard. Animals that appear to a shaman either in
waking life or dream or vision are interpreted as part of a
symbolic language.
The above painting has a bit of influence from the art of the
Huichol and San Blas Indians of Mesoamerica. The Concow
Maidu Indians of California, with whom I have had long contact,
have a wide variety of animal spirits who illuminate spiritual
and cultural concepts. Trees and stones are as well highly
respected as agencies of metaphysical import by the Maidu.
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See more PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTIONS on this link:
Pictographic Abstractions Video
See my posts on SHAMANISM:
Check out my posts about MEDICINE ANIMALS:
BELOW IS A SELECTION OF MY
PAINTINGS THAT DEAL
WITH THE TOPIC OF
SPIRIT ANIMALS
(Copyright by
the artist)
BEETLE MAGIC
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
GARDEN OF THE TURTLE
LITTLE SPIRIT PEOPLE
THE BO HORSE
HOUSE OF THE CACTUS
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ELEMENTAL BIRDS/ India ink drawing by Eric Whollem, 1994/ A CONTEMPORARY PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION
ELEMENTAL BIRDS
1994
by Eric Whollem
India ink on paper
9" x 6"
COLLECTION OF THE ARTIST
Copyright by the artist
___________________
See posts with more DRAWINGS by Eric Whollem:
or an online drawing archive:
THIS IS A SMALL
SELECTION OF MY
INK
DRAWINGS
(Copyright by
the artist)
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
BELOW IS A VIDEO
FEATURING MY PICTOGRAPHIC ART
Pictographic Abstractions Video.
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Saturday, September 3, 2011
FLOWERS IN THE NIGHT/ A mixed media abstraction by Eric Whollem, 1985/ Contemporary Art
FLOWERS IN THE NIGHT
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
6" x 9"
Artist's collection
Copyright by the artist
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See more ABSTRACT ART by Eric Whollem:
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Thursday, September 1, 2011
CERAMIC FISH SCULPTURES by Eric Whollem/ Clay Art Wallpiecies/ Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture
Ceramic Fish
2003
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white clay
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Photos by M. Spielmann
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See more of my CERAMIC SCULPTURE on this link:
BELOW IS A SMALL SELECTION
OF MY CERAMIC
CREATIONS
(Photos copyright
by the artist)
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
The video below shows more of my CERAMIC WALLPIECES, as well as clay pendants:
Ceramic Seahorse Stamps Video
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