INDIAN SKIES by Eric Whollem/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ Contemporary Art

INDIAN SKIES

1984

by Eric Whollem

wax medium on paper

6" x 9"

Private Collection

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

__________________

See more FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS:

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

THE IMAGES BELOW

ARE SAMPLES OF

MY FIGURATIVE WORKS

(Copyright by the artist)

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

LUNCHEON OF THE BIRD PEOPLE

THREE NUDES

DANCING COLOR

BELOW IS A VIDEO

FEATURING MORE OF MY

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS

Figurative Abstractions Video                            

*

MAB THE FAIRY QUEEN by Eric Whollem/ FAIRY ART/ A Figurative Abstraction

MAB THE FAIRY QUEEN

1984

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

6" x 9"

Collection of Ed Luck

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

____________________________

See more posts of FAIRY ART:

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

THE VIDEO BELOW SHOWS SOME OF MY

FAIRYLAND FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS



Video by Eric Whollem                                      

*

BIRD BEAR by Eric Whollem, 1973/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ Watercolor on sandpaper

BIRD BEAR

1973

by Eric Whollem

watercolor on sandpaper

8.5" x 11"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

This painting, executed in neutral-hued watercolors, was created in anticipation

of my project to make paints from earth pigments gathered in nature. 1973 was

a pivotal year in my artistic development.

The art video below presents samples of my earth paintings.

______________________

See more of my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS on this link:

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

Earth Paintings Video                                     

*

THE RAYS AND THEIR VIRTUES by Eric Whollem/ CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM/ Mixed media painting on paper

THE RAYS AND THEIR VIRTUES

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the Belsky Family

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

__________________

See more of my ABSTRACT ART:

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

Geometric Abstractions by Eric Whollem video                      

*               

CUPROUS/ A figurative abstraction by Eric Whollem, 1984/ MODERN PICTOGRAPHIC ART

CUPROUS

by Eric Whollem

1984

mixed media on paper

9" x 6"

Collection of the Artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

________________

See my posts on FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION:

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

THE VIDEO BELOW SHOWS

SOME OF MY FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS

Video by Eric Whollem                                   

*

THE DANCER by Eric Whollem/ An abstract mixed media drawing/ CONTEMPORARY ART

THE DANCER

1986

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

11" x 16"

Collection of the Artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

________________

See more of my DRAWINGS:

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

THE VIDEO BELOW HAS A SELECTION OF

MY PAINTINGS

Video by Eric Whollem                                     

*

THE LITTLE BUILDERS by Eric Whollem/ An expressionistic pictographic abstraction/ CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT ART

THE LITTLE BUILDERS

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

9" x 6"

Collection of the Artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

_______________

See more ABSTRACT ART by Eric Whollem:

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

THE VIDEO BELOW DELVES INTO

PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTIONS

Video by Eric Whollem                                      

*

NIGHT OF THE BACCHANTES by Eric Whollem/ FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM/ Mixed media painting/ 'Bacchus: The Womb Bull'/ CONTEMPORARY MYTHOGRAPHIC ART

NIGHT OF THE BACCHANTES

1984

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

9" x 6"

Collection of the Artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

BACCHUS, THE WOMB BULL

The Bacchantes were the followers of Bacchus, the God of Wine,

in ancient Greece. The Bacchantes were lead by the Maenads.

Bacchus, or Dionysius, was conceived of as a bull, insofar as

the ancient matriarchy utilized the symbolism of the bull's head,

as it is similar in shape to the human womb.

Catal Huyuk, a site in Turkey, historically preceded Sumeria as the

site of the earliest civilization in the world. At Catal Huyuk there

remains part of a temple system which is noted for the inclusion of

many bull's heads. The horns of a bull are shaped rather like the

fallopian tubes.

_________________________

See my posts on the GODDESS:

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

THE VIDEO BELOW DEPICTS

A VARIETY OF GODDESS ART IMAGES BY ERIC WHOLLEM

Amphoran Stamp Video by Eric Whollem                        

See more about the GODDESS on WIKIPEDIA:

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

See more of my FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM:

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

See also my posts on MYTHOGRAPHIC ART:

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

FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM/ A new art video by Eric Whollem/ 'The Development of Figurative Expressionism'/ Featuring an image of 'Continent of the Bird People' by Eric Whollem, 1972/ Acrylic paint on panel/ A Pictographic Figurative Abstraction

CONTINENT OF THE BIRD PEOPLE

1972

by Eric Whollem

acrylic on panel

2' x 3'

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM

My art has affinities to the West Coast School of Figurative Expressionism,

insofar as I was a student of Elmer Bischoff, a leading figure of that movement

when I was an art student at U.C. Berkeley years ago.

Our human psychic heritage has made the human form a natural part of our

art for thousands of years. The absolute nonobjectivity of abstract art thus

gives way to figurative art. Abstract Expressionism, popularized in America

in the 1950's, was soon followed by an array of works that incorporated the

human figure.

The painting entitled, 'Swedes' Flat' stylistically relates to 'Continent of the Bird People,'

seen above. In these works the human figure is reduced to a pictographic cypher.

SWEDES' FLAT

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the Artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM

A Video by Eric Whollem

               FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM Video by Eric Whollem

____________________________

See more of my FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTIONS on these posts:

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

Read more about FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM:

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

More about ELMER BISCHOFF:

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

*

SHASTA GODDESS by Eric Whollem/ A CERAMIC GODDESS SCULPTURE: Painted With Volcanic Pumice From Mt. Shasta/ FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE/ 'The Violet Ray'

SHASTA GODDESS

1989

by Eric Whollem

violet volcanic pumice from Shasta on white clay

10"

Private Collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE VIOLET RAY

In the folklore of Mt. Shasta the 'Violet Ray' is said to

represent spiritual cleansing.

This sculpture was painted with natural mineral pigments

from the Mt. Shasta area. It is among my early ceramic

sculptures from the 1980's. I lived near Mt. Shasta as a

boy back in the 1950's.

___________________

Readers interested in my posts on MT. SHASTA may wish to view these links:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/Mt.%20Shasta

Sculptures by Eric Whollem on Stamps Video               

See my posts of CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

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

SOME READERS MAY BE

 INTERESTED IN MY LEMURIAN

 FANTASY STAMP VIDEO:

Mt. Shasta Folklore Stamp Video                       

*

ROCK ART by Eric Whollem/ Earth Paints on Stone: Pictographic Art Reflecting the Culture of the Concow Maidu Indians

PAINTED STONES

by Eric Whollem

1970's-1980's

natural earth pigments in polymer emulsion

 on  stone

Private collections

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

EARTH PAINTS ON STONE

Pictographic Art Reflecting the Culture of the Concow Maidu

Since the onset of my private creation of earth paints in 1973

I have created many hundreds of miniature earth paintings on

small stones.

Many of the pictographic designs seen above include images of

the kakinim or spirit beings from the natural world. Kakini is

the Concow Maidu word for spirit.

PAINTED STONES

by Eric Whollem

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The stones seen above include basalt, quartz and granite.

The video below presents some of my Earth Paintings on

panel and paper.

Earth Paintings Video.                                                                                                                        

THE GREAT WHITE LIZARD

A Concow Maidu Legend

USBUKI

1985

by Eric Whollem

earth paints on basalt

12"

Collection of Herb Puffer

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Usbuki, the Great White Lizard, is said to live today in a cave

behind the waters of Feather Falls.

In the Old Days he once battled Henokano, the Trickster. Usbuki

is the Warrior Power and the power of dreams.

Usbuki can be seen in the moon.

*

KAKINI

1985

by Eric Whollem

earth paints on stone

5"

Private Collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE VIDEO BELOW TELLS MORE

ABOUT THE CULTURE OF THE

CONCOW MAIDU INDIANS OF

BUTTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

         CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION                                                                                                                                                

  

_________________________

Readers intere MAIDU sted in my blog posts about theshould see:

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

See my articles on EARTH PAINTS:

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

*

                                                                                               

VASE HEADED FIGURE/ Figurative Ceramic Sculpture by Eric Whollem/ Found earth pigments on white clay/ 'NOTES ON JOMON POTTERY'

VASE HEADED FIGURE

1989

by Eric Whollem

earth pigments in polymer emulsion on white clay

8"

Private collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

NOTES ON JOMON POTTERY

This sculpture was loosely inspired by Ainu Jomon ware pottery

from ancient Japan. The work of the Jomon period has many

structural similarities to Mesoamerican sculpture. Jomon ware is

among the most ancient pottery in the world. Much of it is sculptural.

'Jomon' literally means 'rope impression,' as rope was pressed into

much of the Jomon ware for textural effect. I have developed my own

texturizing 'tools' which include ceramic fragments, natural objects, etc.

____________________

See more of my CERAMIC SCULPTURES:

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

Ceramic Sculpture Video.                                 

See more about JOMON POTTERY:

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

*

THE GREAT MATRIARCH/ Ceramic Goddess Sculpture by Eric Whollem, 1990/ FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE

THE GREAT MATRIARCH

1990

by Eric Whollem

pumice from Mt. Shasta in polymer emulsion

on white clay

10"

Private collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Many of my sculptures utilize earth pigments bound in

polymer emulsion as a final painted coat. These

pigments would burn out in a firing, as they are 'found

earth,' which seldom is of the type of mineral body

suitable for firing in a hot kiln environment.

Usually an earth pigment requires a measure of kaolin,

or mineral clay, to be suitable for adhesion. However,

I am not alone in painting my ceramics after firing, as

this was practiced in ceramic arts all through the Americas,

where glaze was never developed in clay sculpture and

pottery.

______________________

See more posts on the topic of the GODDESS:

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

THE ARTIST STAMP VIDEO BELOW

 DEPICTS MANY OF MY

CERAMIC

GODDESSES:

ERIC WHOLLEM                         

More posts about my CERAMIC SCULPTURE:

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

BELOW IS A SMALL

SELECTION OF

MY CERAMIC

SCULPTURES

(Photos copyright

by the artist)

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

MOERA

VILA

MINOAN GODDESS

*

PARVATI/ Ceramic Goddess Sculpture by Eric Whollem/ 'Mt. Shasta Volcanic Pumice: Homeopathic Earth Art'/ FIGURATIVE CERAMIC SCULPTURE

PARVATI

1990

by Eric Whollem

pumice from Mt. Shasta on white clay

10"

Collection of the artist

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

PARVATI

1990

by Eric Whollem

pumice from Mt. Shasta on white clay

10"

Collection of the artist

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

MT. SHASTA VOLCANIC PUMICE

Homeopathic Earth Art

Many of my sculptures are finished with volcanic pumice from Mt. Shasta,

a mountain revered by many as a sacred site. A variety of purples, violets,

lavenders, as well as earthy buff colors may be found in the area.

Adding natural materials to one's art is parcel of what might be termed

'homeopathic' art. Homeopathy is usually thought of as a part of medicine;

but art is a medicine for the spirit.

Parvati, 'The Daughter of the Mountain,' from Hindu lore, is said to be the

bride of Shiva.

________________

Readers interested in MT. SHASTA may wish to view these posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/Mt.%20Shasta

Earth Paints Video by Eric Whollem                      

See more CERAMIC SCULPTURES on these posts:

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

      

*