Artworks In The Garden
By Bob Chapman
Art décor in the garden can add another dimension to your landscape. Art in the garden creates a focal point, drawing your eye to the beauty of the piece. There are many classes in the works of art to consider, as you will see below. No matter what you select to adorn your garden it will add a touch that says to the viewer "This is really nice."
I've arbitrarily classified the hundreds of artworks available on the market today. The classes give you an idea of the scope of items used to enhance the garden. These beautiful pieces are made of marble, stone, ceramics, iron, brass, copper, concrete, fiberglass, wood, plastics and resins. The art itself can range from the abstract to the classical, it's your choice.
Classical statues. Included here, for example, are the Greek gods and goddesses (Discus Thrower, Venus, also known as Aphrodite), Romanesque, nudes, Michelangelo's works (David, Pieta, etc.) Rodin's famous "Thinker" and "The Kiss" and Lady Justice. There are others that are available to suit anyone's tastes.
Lifestyle statues. Golfing and "Mother and Child" are examples of the many kinds of these statues, some are whimsical in nature.
Regional and historical statues. You'll easily find Egyptian, African, American Indian, Asian and Americana among others.
Religious statues. Hindi, Buddha, Pieta, Madonna and Jesus, all are available and widely used as focal points in the garden.
Mythical statues. Included are the well-known gargoyles, nymphs, dragon, fairy, mermaid, unicorn and Pegasus.
Animal statues. This is a very large category. Replicas of animals and birds have been used for thousands of years. Included are statues of a dog, cat, eagle, horse, frog, elephant, bear, dolphin, giraffe, lion, deer, moose, turtle, cranes, heron (several species of these popular birds, many used as decorations in ponds and pools), ravens, crows and others not normally seen for sale.
Holidays. There are many used for just the season and then stored away, to be brought out next season. Included are Christmas, Easter and Halloween.
Fountains. This is probably the most widely used artwork in the landscape. Included are garden fountains, outdoor/indoor fountains, wall-types, those used in pools and ponds and cascading waterfalls. Not to be overlooked are the many contemporary fountains designed by artists.
Busts. Among the many busts used as popular artworks we include composers (Beethoven, Mozart, etc.), Shakespeare, Nefertiti, Julius Caesar, Hermes, Presidents of the U.S. and many Greek and Roman unnamed busts of the period. Here also can be found busts of persons created by contemporary artists, many being commissioned works.
Bird baths. Here we can find a tremendous variety of shapes and forms, all designed to give our feathered friends a place to take a bath and to get a drink of water. It appears that the sky's the limit as far as the forms available. You simply make the choice to suit your personal taste.
Bird feeders. There are real artworks in the wide variety of these popular items. Many of us want to take good care of our feathered friends, supplying food all year ‘round for them, watching them gleefully fly to the source of food. The birds don't seem to pay attention to the device used to dispense food, but we can exercise some artistic taste in purchasing one for use in the garden.
Gazing globes. These beautiful and mystical globes are very widely used as focal points in the landscape. They vary in color but all do reflect nicely.
Clocks. Do you need to tell the time when you are out working or enjoying the garden? No, but some timepieces are really breathtaking. Modern manufacturing methods insure that these works of art are protected against the elements. It's a good thing because these very decorative clocks are found outdoors in many gardens.
Sun dials. You will be surprised at the variety of sundials available. And all are designed to fairly accurately tell the time!
Urns. Many are used as planters but many are also used as decorations in the garden. Ceramic urns can be simply gorgeous and well worth considering as ornaments to enhance the landscape.
Thermometers. Who doesn't want to know what the outdoor temperatures are? If it's too hot, plants will suffer if not enough moisture is available. If too cold, frost-sensitive plants may die. There are lots of thermometers available, ranging from small to very large, from plain vanilla types to very elaborate and decorative ones.
Miscellaneous. This group includes medallions, bells and gongs, vases, fire pits, weather vanes, bridges, faucets and benches.
Tips and suggestions about using artwork(s).
- Don't be held back in displaying art in your garden by what someone else may or may not think about your selection(s). After all, it's your garden!
- If the art is to be a focal point, consider having less colorful or non-flowering plants in back of or around it, lest the plants detract from the artwork.
- Consider a pathway or walkway leading to your display. This will "point" the eye to the artwork and suggest or lead a person to the display. A crushed granite path or a walkway of stepping stones, with a ground hugging plant between creates a nice adjunct to your prized piece and does not compete with it.
- Surprisingly, a wooden fence provides a neutral background for a statue, bust or bird bath.
- Many artworks (clocks, thermometers, medallions, fountains, wreaths, etc.) can easily be attached to a fence or to a wall for display purposes. Consider planting an evergreen vine and having this wrap around the item, thus highlighting it.
- The placing of a bench in the garden invites one to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Just to be able to sit and enjoy the garden, meditate (many do this!), watch the birds or simply read a good book is nice to do in this hectic world.