Sculpture Can Bring Life to Your Garden

I should know: I've been a sculptor most of my life, and I have plenty of years behind me of experience. Most of my sculptures reside in the gardens and landscaped outdoors of residences. My work is also in public places such as parks and downtown areas. But in this article, I want to focus on residences.

I'm going to suggest what kind of sculpture to look for. Let me begin by saying that your garden and landscaped outdoors is a sacred place. But of course you know that, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this article. The outdoors of your residence, being a sacred place, deserves art that is exceptional. So you have to spend a little more for it. Listen, you get what you pay for. Further, you get the experience you pay for. The nice thing about original art is that, even though you pay more for it, you get more. The life of a work of sculpture should be indefinite. It should be able to remain outdoors without withering away. So, the initial investment is more. But you get more, a lot more. I would go so far as to say that original art for the garden is the best outdoor art investment, if, of course, you can find work that is truly art and not junk disguised as art.

Probably, you will want to include, in your outdoor sanctuary, human-crafted items that are not art: cement casts, gravel, building materials, and so on. Here, you want to integrate these items with the landscape. It is fine if the cement casting of Saint Francis has moss growing on it. Ivy trickling over a retaining wall is desirable. But when you put the art in this setting, you want to show it off. If you don't want to show it off, don't buy it. The sculpture should be the capstone, what brings everything together. The sculpture should enhance and amplify the life of your outdoor landscape. The sculpture should provide a doorway into the majesty of the garden and landscape. All you need do is look at the sculpture and you feel a connection to nature. You can be looking at the sculpture from a window inside your home, or you can be outside. Either way, the sculpture connects you to nature.

I don't, then, advise you buy works of craft to deposit here and there in your outdoor landscape. Don't do that unless the work of craft has sentimental value or is in some other way exceptional to you. Craft is cheaper than art: cheap in price and cheap in QUALITY. Instead, buy less and get more. If you can only afford one original work of sculpture, do that rather than buy many craft pieces. Your outdoor landscape is not going anywhere and neither is the art, especially if you secure it, which you should, and which it is possible to do without making such securing permanent.

Before you become worried that you will have to pay dearly for original art, let me reassure you: You can find original art at a moderate and affordable price. You can find it on the Net and you can probably find it locally as well, especially if you live near a city. Many garden shops sell sculptures on consignment. That's one good place to look. But there are many. I don't suggest galleries because the work will be too expensive. If expense is not so much a concern, then go to the galleries. Go to the galleries anyway because here there is a weeding out process and you are more likely to find exceptional art and thereby have more awareness of what's good.

For deals, you might find one at the gift shop of a botanical gardens. I have my work in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens gift shop. There, my work is moderately priced and exceptional. But what you can also do is look around a botanical garden and see if you can find original sculpture that appeals. You can then inquire at the gift shop or at the front counter or call the gardens. Because botanical gardens and similar places of beauty are set up primarily as non-profit, they are not going to want a large commission for referring an artist. As you know, galleries are infamous for insisting on taking a large portion of the sale for themselves, as much as 60 percent. I suggest going to the expensive places to get a feel for good art (though not all of it is good, I have to tell you). Then shop around. The only danger here is that you may find, in the galleries, a sculptor you like so much you just have to own his work. Well, that's the danger. If price is an issue, I don't think this will be too much of a problem.

How does one spot inexpensive-but-exceptional original sculpture? This is what you look for: Sculptures made with materials and techniques available to craftspeople and folk artists. The difference between craft and art should be evident. Art is of higher quality. You will also know when someone produces higher caliber work because that work sells for more than craft, but not so much more than you cannot afford it. A sculptor may have work that goes outside of your budget. Many who inquire about my large frog sculptures decide quickly that the price is too high for them. Even so, my frog sculptures are incredibly affordable considering that I am a highly skilled artisan as well as a professional sculptor with over 16 years of professional experience. Further, the large sculptures I produce are comparable to bronzes, at a fraction of the cost. But I also produce smaller work that is quite affordable. I do so because I want people to gain interest in possibly buying a larger work later.

Don't buy craft. A craftsperson makes the same thing over and over again. That's not art. It may seem that I produce the same thing over and over again. After all, I am making large human-size copper frogs. How different can each one be? Very. Each piece is incredibly unique. I learn something from each piece I build. An artist can focus on one theme and never repeat himself, even though his designs may seem or actually be similar.

A craftsperson who wants to make a living will often find he has to hire others to help him crank out his pieces. This is not art. This is moving in the direction of factory-made shlock. Even so, something made by hand does offer warmth and life that a factory-made item cannot. But wouldn't you rather have original art? Nature itself is so beautiful that it deserves only the best from us.

Very few materials can stand the test of time outside. Original art for outdoors will have to be made of metal, clay, cement, stone, glass, or a combination. Wood will not stand the test of time outdoors. Neither will synthetic resins. One sculptor friend of mine recycles old farm equipment and the like. He works primarily in stainless steel, and his work is exceptional. This is a method: Working with recycled metals. Not every artist is capable of achieving art through any given medium, this one included. I have seen plenty of sculpture that is unexceptional.

What makes a sculpture, or any other piece of art, for that matter, exceptional? Art has life. The sculpture lives, it breathes, it has substance and depth. You cannot help but to feel that it is a part of your landscape, a force just as much alive as the plants and the creatures that inhabit your outdoor landscape.

So plan for original art to live in your outdoor landscape. Look around. You can find a deal and get original art that's good. It is worth the effort. Once you have the art, you enjoy it for as long as you decide to keep it, which may be for the rest of your life. Such a purchase, then, is worth taking time over. Happy hunting.

Beau Smith is a professional sculptor with 16 years professional experience sculpting large, human-sized copper frogs. He also writes about art. He has written and published one book on his sculptures, and written, designed, and published his web site, beautifulfrog.com.

---

Tips On Caring For Your Cut Flowers

Imagine it's a special occasion and you've just received a... Read More

Granite Flexible Preformed Rock Ponds

More than just a Preformed PondTraditionally, preformed ponds are large... Read More

Organic Hydroponics - Simplified

These days, it's easy to get lost in the wealth... Read More

Escape to Sunny Mexico - at Home!

Can't get away for a southern vacation this year? Don't... Read More

Metal Outdoor Furniture - Explained

Mention metal patio furniture and you probably think of the... Read More

How to Control Deer in Your Garden

Deer are the most difficult of all pests to deter... Read More

How to Attract Butterfly Activity...

The flittering of the butterfly through your garden is no... Read More

Learn All About Feng Shui Money Trees

A feng shui money tree is an indoor plant used... Read More

Planting Bare Root Roses

Before planting, the plants must be prepared. The following suggestions... Read More

Paving Stones

Imagine a beautiful pattern of paving stones as the central... Read More

Orchid Myths -The Truth

Here are some of the popular orchid myths#1 Orchids are... Read More

Tuberous Begonias

If you appreciate plants that have no hesitation in boldly... Read More

Rose - The Flower of Love and Romance

What is the flower that everyone visualizes and associates with... Read More

Discount Patio Furniture ? An Easy Way to Get the Best

Buying discount patio furniture is an economical way to obtain... Read More

The Meanings Behind the Colors of Roses

Roses are a sign of love and friendship and by... Read More

Landscaping Tips

When you want to create a beautiful and functional landscape,... Read More

Why Patio Benches are a Great Place to Relax and Enjoy

Having an outdoor patio offers the opportunity and place to... Read More

Easy Pond and Water Garden Construction

Today's successful water garden usually is designed as an ecosystem... Read More

Manage Algae

There are several different ways to manage algae in your... Read More

How to Grow Apples

The first thing you need to grow apples is a... Read More

Orchid Care - What The Root Tells Us

Orchid Care Part 4 Diseases of the RootsOur final part... Read More

Are There Really Black Roses?

Throughout the course of time, black roses have conjured... Read More

A Few Simple Facts About Purple Martins

Purple Martins are the largest member of the swallow family.... Read More

Lap Pools ? Great Exercise Inside Or Any Size Backyard

Do you love swimming? Do you dream of an in... Read More

Garden Makeover On A Budget

There's been a huge increase in the popularity of garden... Read More

Liner Ponds versus Folding Preformed Ponds

IntroductionSo you've decided to build your very own backyard water... Read More

Backyard Bird--The Catbird

It's quiet now.Gone is the constant chatter, whistles and meowing... Read More

Vegetable Growing for Beginners

If you have never grown vegetables before the first thing... Read More

Summer Lawn Care Tips

Summer is just around the corner, and your lawn could... Read More

Toxic Pollutants & Their Effect on Fish Health

Once water temperatures increase in the summer months, fish become... Read More

Are You Being Taken Advantage of when Ordering Flowers Online?

Did you know that you can send flowers many different... Read More

Laying Out Your Landscape Part Two

Part Two in a SeriesOnce you have your landscape design... Read More

Adirondack Chairs - The Proper Way to Care for Them

The Adirondack chair is unlike any other chair every made.... Read More