The Assertion for Every Garden's Enhancement: Integrating Sculptures - Tips for Perfect Placement in Your Green Haven
A garden without a peck of art is like an outfit without accessories—it just feels half-baked. And while this might be a standard take when it comes to home decor, we've been neglecting our outdoor spaces. Garden sculptures, however, can take your backyard from drab to fab!
Even in the tiniest of lawns, a well-chosen, eye-catching piece of art can transform the lackluster into a tropical retreat. At the Chelsea Flower Show, outdoor sculptures were all the rage, nestled between greenery or standing tall in the central spot, like centerpieces at a gala dinner.
According to renowned outdoor sculptor Paul Vanstone, "There's an enormous love for gardens in this country, and I think it's because they are a natural extension of the home. We love art in our lives; it shows us something out of the ordinary, and it can take us somewhere else. And sculptures, when placed correctly, can become a focal point in your garden."
From selecting the right materials to integrating them into your garden design, we've got the full lowdown on garden art.
Paul Vanstone studied sculpture at Central St. Martins School of Art before completing an MFA in sculpture at the Royal College of Art. Following his graduation, he worked in Italy at traditional marble carving studios near the famous Carrera quarries. Post his return to the UK, he became Anish Kapoor's assistant before showcasing his work at major galleries across London, including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Art, Baby, Art
Whether bold or subtle, sculptures bring structure and enhance the overall design narrative, serving as visual guides that set the mood for your outdoor space. As outdoor design specialist Shelley Landale puts it, "A sculpture can add dimension, direction, and soul to a garden. It's a three-dimensional focal point that draws the eye and creates a strong visual anchor."
While a dramatic tree can make a beautiful, natural focal point, its effectiveness is seasonal, and your garden can look a bit dreary come winter. Sculptures, on the other hand, stay consistently beautiful throughout the year, offering a continuity of charm.
"Sculptures bring a layer of artistry to the garden, creating a visual anchor and a focal point. In particular, a statement piece will add to the year-round interest, especially when the plantings fade during winter," says Shelley.
Moreover, sculptures introduce a personal touch to your landscape design. Just like in your interior, the furniture and design style of your home reflect your personality, something that is often missing in garden designs.
"We particularly love how the process of choosing a piece can reflect the client's personal style and character. It becomes a unique and meaningful addition to the space and helps tell a story or evoke an emotion within the landscape," Shelley adds.
Los Angeles-based sculptural artist Katrien van der Schueren pushes the boundaries of materials to transform ordinary materials into extraordinary forms, creating masterpieces that add flair and flair to any outdoor space.
Designing a Garden With Art
Getting Started
As much as the style of sculpture you choose impacts your garden's look, the way you place it is equally important. "Placement is everything," says Shelley. "Sculptures should feel like part of the landscape, not imposed upon it. Nestling them within planting softens their presence and helps them settle."
Tying your sculpture into the larger landscape of your garden and making it feel connected to the surrounding nature creates a more natural, organic look. "Pay close attention to scale and proportion. The sculpture should relate to its surroundings, and choose finishes or tones that echo the wider garden," suggests Shelley.
Consider the angles from which your sculpture will be most visible while designing your garden. Think about how it will be framed or obstructed by the surrounding foliage. A poorly placed piece of art gets overlooked amidst your landscaping ideas; it's a shame for a piece that deserves so much attention!
"Both placement and choice are critical and require thoughtful consideration of scale, light, and sightlines. This is as much an art as the sculpture itself," says Katrien. However, once placed, a sculpture can be tricky to move, so getting it right the first time is essential to save you the hassle in the long run.
One way to ensure you've chosen the right spot is by building a mock-up sculpture first. As Joseph Richardson of Richardson Associates Landscape Architecture suggests, "It's always recommended to build a life-size mock-up of the sculpture you're looking to incorporate into a landscape. The mock-up could be made out of cardboard, construction paper, poster board, or even plywood." This might not be expensive, but it can make a significant difference in your garden's design.
"Sculptures are pricey, so creating a life-size mock-up and moving it around the yard can help determine the right surrounding materials like lighting, plantings, and even hardscapes," says Joseph. "Once we have an idea of where we want to place a sculpture in the yard, we'll have the lighting team examine various ways to illuminate the sculpture, and then the landscaping team will assess the surrounding materials and scale."
Sightlines and Staging Your Art
When incorporating a sculpture into a space, you want to consider sightlines. Both the views from the house as well as the views from the surrounding outdoor spaces matter. A lot of the times, moving the mock-ups around the property helps determine the best location. Homeowners or members of the design team can sit in different spaces to establish which area works best.
Scale and Proportion
For a garden sculpture to be visually pleasing, the sculpture must be proportionate to its surroundings. If the sculpture is too large, it can overwhelm the space. On the other hand, if it's too small, it can easily get lost in the garden.
Even if you don't have a lot of space, you can still incorporate a sculpture to create a significant impact. A small sculpture with a powerful design or a large sculpture with a simple form can make a dramatic statement in a small garden.
Sculpture and Landscaping
Landscaping ideas play a significant role in how a garden sculpture can be integrated into the outdoor space. The right plantings and hardscaping materials can complement the sculpture and create a cohesive design.
A lawn covered in vibrant flowers or plants can provide a beautiful contrast to a sculpture, especially if the sculpture is made from a more somber material like stone or metal. A water feature adds not only a soothing sound but also fauna, further enriching the garden experience.
Lighting plays a critical role in highlighting the best features of a sculpture, especially as evening swoops in. Whether it's a soft, ambient light or spotlights casting dramatic shadows, well-placed lighting can bring your sculpture to life, even after sunset.
Metal, Stone, or Fiberglass?
Natural materials like stone, metal, and concrete withstand the outdoor elements well; they also age gracefully and can develop a beautiful patina over time, adding to their charm.
Art advisor Kelly Cahn advises, "I've worked on installations with bronze, cast iron, and aluminum, and I've seen works installed made from stone[1]. I'd be wary of untreated metals that can corrode over time, causing them to stain the base of the sculpture. If the work is painted, keep in mind that it will likely need to be repainted periodically."
Materials like wood, softer metals, and low-quality resins are not suitable for outdoor use; they deteriorate or fade quickly when exposed to the elements, ruining your sculpture.
Making a sculpture the star of your gardenMaking the sculpture the highlight of your outdoor space can be done by enhancing its placement, lighting, and accompanying plantings.
When choosing a sculpture, it's crucial to select a piece that represents your style and the feeling you wish to create in your garden. Starting with a sculpture and letting it guide your planting decisions will lead to a stunning, multi-dimensional design.
Place the sculpture on a pedestal or soil base to elevate it and make it more visible. Position the sculpture where it can be seen from multiple angles, and create enough space around it for easy movement and appreciation of its form.
Select plantings that complement the sculpture's form, texture, and color. A curated mix of exotic plants, from vibrant flowers to interesting foliage, will add a visual feast to your garden. Conversely, minimalist plantings can allow the sculpture to take center stage.
Consider the textures and colors of the surrounding hardscapes and landscapes to ensure they blend seamlessly with the sculpture. A mixture of stone, wood, and metal textures can create an interesting and dynamic environment that complements any sculpture.
The addition of lights to highlight the sculpture will bring it to life, especially during the evening hours. This could involve spotlights that illuminate the sculpture's depth and form or ambient lighting that creates a soft glow around it.
In modern gardens, sculptures can add dimension, movement, and color to the space, making them a great alternative to traditional water features. The incorporation of a sculpture can elevate a simple garden into a work of art.
Sources:[1] BBC Gardens, https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/outdoor_sculpture[2] Garden Design, https://www.gardendesign.com/garden-style/contemporary-garden-maximizing-space[3] Monrovia, https://www.monrovia.com/strategy/outdoor-living/sculpture-in-your-garden[4] The Spruce, https://www.thespruce.com/garden-sculptures-enhancing-your-landscape-4693052[5] Houzz, https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/focal-points-in-the-garden/~i110537098
- Incorporating sculptures into a garden provides dimensionality, direction, and soul, serving as visual guides that set the mood for your outdoor space.
- Placing sculptures appropriately within the garden landscape, rather than imposing them upon it, creates a more natural and organic look.
- The process of choosing a sculpture can reflect a person's unique style and character, adding a personal touch to landscape design, often missing in traditional garden designs.
- Whether bold or subtle, sculptures in a garden enhance the overall design narrative, acting as focal points throughout the year, offering continuity of charm regardless of the season.
