Passionate fine artists
who find inspiration
in mid-century modern
Our homes are often seen as the backdrop upon which we enrich our lives and embellish our style. Even for devotees of Eichler, Streng, Cliff May, Palmer & Krisel, and other California mid-century modern homes, the house structure is, essentially, their canvas.
For some emerging fine artists, that particular mid-century modern canvas has itself become the focus. Because of its unique combination of neutrality and singularity of design, the mid-century modern look plays a dual role in the aesthetic of Americana: It symbolizes nostalgia and family security, as well as a sense of rebellion -- a departure from the traditional way we choose to relate to our surroundings.
For some artists, that duality provides rich fodder for paintings that, in different ways, explore what it means to grow up in suburban America, and how our surroundings shape our attitudes.
Meet five artists who share a passion for modern architecture -- both as symbols of Americana and as aesthetic masterpieces themselves -- that drives them to render the homes in their work. More >
Great garden walls: the
best of modern fencing
Fences are the walls of the garden room. They quite literally extend the structure and form of your modern home into the landscape, creating spaces for enjoying the out of doors.
But what makes up the composition and dimensions of a well-designed modern fence -- and how should fencing relate to the interior of the home?
"If all rooms indoors and out were the same size and shape," cautions master California landscape designer Garret Eckbo in his 1956 book 'The Art of Home Landscaping,' "our world would be a prison, and we would go mad. We all enjoy the contrast of open space with complete enclosure."
The most successful fencing in the modern garden takes its cue from the clean lines and rigorous geometries of house, building on the important relationship of indoor and outdoor space and expanding it all the way to the property line. More >
