Special Supplement • Autumn 2012
Greco, but they have stepped out of those paintings to walk the streets of 20th and 21st century cities.” For the former Fulbright scholar, these images democratize the history of art. She feels that in the past only the aristocracy could have their portraits painted. Webber’s fine eye and photographic memory have led her to regular folks who can look like people not only from other generations, but other class structures. A world traveler, Webber has had an opportunity to spot subjects in her journeys. “From looking at art all my life, I’ve seen there is a type, an El Greco type or a Leonard da Vinci angel,” Webber explained. “I had a Renaissance art history class at Mills College, and then living for a year in Florence Italy, I saw people who looked like they were right off the walls.”
Fall for White Point Home Tour— Home Descriptions Ocean View Cottage
Photos Courtesy of the Palo s Verdes Land Conservancy
The small three bedroom cottage and ocean views was built in 1912. The fireplace was built with rock and embedded seashells adding visual interest. But this home didn’t always look like this. When its owners moved into the home, the refrigerator blocked the home’s only view of the ocean. It just didn’t make sense to them that the home didn’t take fuller advantage of its vantage point. She gave it a more open feel that takes advantage of its bluff location. The result is a cozy space with views from every vantage point, whether sitting in the great room or washing dishes at the kitchen sink. The multi-tiered deck – a key focal point with a cool breeze and view of the Harbor. The property features an ancient Brazilian pepper tree, rose and succulent gardens and dozens of potted plants. Throughout the deck and gardens, she’s hidden interesting, quirky pieces from their travels. Regardless of where you look—either the fabulous Harbor view or between the branches of a shady tree—there’s something interesting to see.
Photo Courtesy of the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy.
Whereas Webber’s inspiration is drawn from human experience throughout the world, Diana Kos’ influences stems from sources within her direct vicinity. For Kos, inspiration for such elements as color and textures come from inside and around her home. The reflection from her pool, the gardens outside her windows all inform her work. Partly because of her time spent in China, the versatile bamboo plant shows up frequently in her work. Kos’ paintings reflect her life on an intimate level. Kos’ oceanview home, that she shares with Dr. Stephen Read, is relatively new and without the interesting stories that can come from home modification through the years. Kos, a contemporary abstract painter says her home is her art. The spacious Kos-Read home houses an indoor swimming pool in the grand living room, office space for her and her husband, an artist’s studio and a green marble tub in the master bath. The artist is especially fond of the gardens that can be viewed from virtually every room in the house. The surrounding gardens and the light streaming through the windows and rooftop skylights contribute to the sense of the home as a retreat. Kos’ home offers ample amount of wall space to accommodate her large framed abstract and realistic nudes. A sprawling Mediterranean tri-level house, her home is inhabited by her paintings. Working mostly in soft pastel, in combination with watercolor, pencil and oil, she has several favorite subjects, including female nudes. Kos likens her style to poetry—what she calls an “organic abstraction.” “You have an idea that you want to express, and sometimes you have to go about it from different angles,” she explains. Her images evolve through her use of line and color. She occasionally uses reflective material to transform the paintings according to the light in which they are viewed. Kos says she was inspired by a visit to Stanford University to incorporate chapel style arches which sometimes frame her paintings. One of Kos’ favorite literary quotes is from a poem by William Butler Yeats,
On the Bluff
Th e o c c u p a n t s bought this magnificent oceanfront home four years ago. They only live here part time. They look forward to a full retirement at some point so they can enjoy it full time. Built in 2000, this 2,400square-foot custom h o m e wa s t o t a l l y remodeled and newly furnished just this past year. The dynamic views are completely unobstructed. The surf is literally in your backyard, where you hear the crashing waves, see dolphins and watch wind surfers glide through the water. The secluded property enjoys panoramic ocean views from Long Beach to Dana Point. The custom-etched front door opens to a spacious flowing floor plan with hardwood floors, new marble fireplace, a large living room and Home Descriptions Continued on page 10
Artists & Creative Spaces Continued on page 16 HarboRLiving
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