Need Assistance? 01384 442752 (UK)

Garden Art

 

Sculpture adds interest to a garden, if it is appropriate to the situation. It can be the “finishing touch”, reinforcing a style or theme; providing a focal point where the garden was otherwise rather ordinary,  or it can introduce an element of mystery. Sculptures can tell a story, or make an artistic statement. Using statues and sculpture in a garden is both something to be learned and an opportunity to express your artistic flair.

Garden statues, sculptures and ornaments fit well into most gardens. These are often the things which put the finishing touches to a garden. They may include sundials, bird baths, and even weather vanes. Statues may be elaborate and large or small and simple. They can represent real things (eg. people or animals), fantasies (eg. gnomes, imps, fairies, etc) or may be stylised art sculptures. They can be set simply amongst shrubbery, partly obscured from view, or made a more obvious feature and placed on columns, piers and pedestals at various points in the garden such as in grottos, alcoves or at the end of a path or the centre of a pond.


STYLE
Style of a garden must first be determined before considering the use of statues and sculpture. Ask yourself: What is the style of my garden? Where are the best focal and view places in my garden? Why do I feel a statue or sculpture is wanted?

If your garden is of traditional style (ie with strong geometrical shapes, obvious elements of balance and structure and well maintained hedges and plants) then you may benefit from items that are also traditional. For example, statues of Greek gods, prominent water fountains, etc. 

If you garden has a bush-like setting with predominantly natural vegetation, then items that are rustic and ‘earthy’ may be more appropriate. Placing a statue of David in a native bush garden would not be advisable.

If your house and garden are very modern and recently constructed, it would most probably exhibit clean crisp lines and strong geometrical forms and fencing. In this situation a modern sculpture may be most suitable.

When a garden takes on a theme like Mediterranean or Malaysian, then suitable statues, sculptures or figurines from that country would be best. 

Even the colour and materials of building and paving materials should be considered in your selections. If paving and pots are terracotta, then statuary should be terracotta, not sandstone.
Many good gardens are sometimes ruined by poor selection of coloured garden accessories.

MATERIAL
After deciding on your style parameters, a good garden designer will then determine the best materials to use for the statuary.

If the item is to be placed outdoors throughout the year (as most garden items will be) then resilience to weather is paramount. Consider the effects of sun, wind, frost, salt breezes and bird droppings. In some cases where people live close to industrial areas, then even acid rain needs to be considered. 

Each material has advantages, these will need to be weighed up form your particular need and garden.

  • Metal can be long lasting and looks fantastic (especially if brass or stainless steel). It will however corrode over time. If the sculpture has moving parts then these may stop moving as corrosion accumulates.

  • Ceramics is available either as a porous or non-porous item. Most gardeners will come across ceramic pots however garden figures are also available. They are prone to breakage as they are brittle and thin. It can discolour over time.

  • Concrete is used to mass produce reproductions of common garden statuary like gnomes, small bird baths, small figures. Unfortunately you loose the uniqueness due to this reproduction however it is cheaper than the real item in stone. Concrete may crack, and where limbs of figurines are involved, they may fall off. Concrete can be dressed up with the use of rendering, tiles and paint.

  • Plaster is used to make very cheap garden items. However the life of these items is very short - plaster can bubble and collapse.

  • Stone has always been a favourite to gardeners.  It has a long life but can weather to give an ancient and well aged look. Some stone materials however can age more quickly than others.

  • Timber is occasionally used for garden art. Overtime however it may rot if not treated. 

WATER

Water is the biggest cause of damage to statues and sculptures. Rust, corrosion and staining are regarded as the biggest problems. Additionally in dark wet regions of a sculpture or statue, algae can grow which can cause further damage and discolouration.

 

MAINTENANCE

Most home gardeners do not think of maintenance when the select and buy statuary and sculptures. In most cases is it not important. However, given the problems that may occur (as mentioned above) it is wise to plan for preservative treatment for timber items, anti rust relevant items, lubricate moving components, check for spiders, ants and borers, etc. 

 

PRICE

The price will vary dramatically depending on many things, from the material chosen to the size and complexity of the item. Sculptures by established and well respected artists can be very expensive; but others by new and upcoming artists and craftsmen can be a very reasonable cost, and sometimes a good financial investment.

 

USING STATUARY

Statuary can be used subtly or in a formal setting. 
To make these features more eye catching consider the following:

  • Surrounding with plants will enhance the feature and not compete.  This may mean
     using plain evergreens or a single flower colour around the statue.

  • Limit the number of ornaments in an area.  Only a very large area can support
     competition between two or more features.  If you have several pieces that you want to use, make sure they are visually separate.

  • Make sure the ornament enhances and blends with the garden.  Formal pieces are best in a formal setting, cute pieces such as animals are better in an informal or country style garden.


WEATHER VANES
Weather Vanes are another feature that can add further interest to a garden, and can help draw the eye to a gazebo, structure or other building.  It is important that the weather vane blends in with the material of the building, and the theme of the garden.

SUNDIALS
Sundials come in all shapes and forms, and are an excellent decorative feature in most gardens. However, not all sundials may work in your locality. The sun moves differently in Europe and America to how it does in Australia, and imported sundials may give incorrect readings irrespective of how they are installed. If you plan to have a functional sundial, be careful that what you buy does work in your area, install it properly, and be sure to put it in a sunny position where trees are not going to grow up and create excessive shade.


[29/03/2024 22:23:27]