Garden Sculptures Shape the Landscape
Why do artful objects — like sculpture, salvaged architectural items or even a birdbath — create such an impression in the garden?
Like incorporating jewelry to a little black dress or a few bright cushions to a tired sofa, intentionally put sculpture can take any garden from normal to extraordinary. When sculpture is thoughtfully introduced into the garden, a new dimension is created. Simultaneously, the mood is changed. The landscape magically becomes ingenious and thought provoking. A grassy meadow becomes striking; a prosaic yard gains a point of perspective. A courtyard or patio conveys the owner’s character or the architecture’s significance.
I have learned a good deal about outdoor sculpture from artist and designer Jennifer Gilbert Asher of TerraSculpture. “I place sculpture not just to match the garden except to change it,” Asher says. “A captivating sculpture can spike fascination and provoke thought. It can be playful or energetic, meditative or even sensuous.”
Asher was inspired to design an assortment of bold, modern bits after she had trouble locating affordable artwork for her client’s landscapes. “I’m fascinated by the contrast when bold, clean forms are set from the unrestrained beauty of nature,” says Asher. “This is what I explore with my sculpture.”
Here are her tips for upgrading a landscape with outdoor sculpture. See if you can find which of these pieces featured here is my special one!
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Tempest”
Sculpture gives you four-season interest from the landscape. Since the shape of a garden changes with the seasons, the sculpture takes center stage. The starkness of a modern form against a modern landscape can be breathtaking.
This:”Tempest” in weathered steel.
TerraSculpture
“To me, the most comfortable place for palaces is at eye level,” says Asher. “return and study the placement from where most folks will be appreciating the art. Maybe it’s from within the house, or sitting poolside, or from a front entry.”
This:”Tempest” at a dazzling orange powder-coated complete, at a San Francisco rooftop garden.
TerraSculpture
Asher’s clients commissioned a 7-foot (upscaled) variant of”Embrace”and put it against the background of the natural canyon setting.
The artist likes her sculpture to feature a”window” element, highlighting the see-through quality of a piece. “Looking through a frame is almost magnetic,” she says. “You want to see what’s inside, through it beyond — into the simple, harmonious beauty of nature itself.”
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Embrace”
This is yet another perspective of”Embrace,” an alluring gesture from stainless steel.
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture”Time on Earth”stainless steel
Wall sculpture can be mesmerizing when it enriches design, as is seen here in a customized commission called”Time on Earth.” Asher collaborated with her customer to look for a stainless steel wave-inspired installation that adds drama into a precious koi collection.
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Flight”
“If there’s 1 quality I can’t emphasize enough, it’s influence,” Asher says. That means: color. Shape. Texture. Scale.
“All these factors awakens the garden and gives it spirit,” she adds. “Sculpture from the landscape should exude power, emotion and strength. Otherwise it will just fade away into the depths of the backyard .”
This:”Flight” in white powder-coated steel.
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Sisters”
Well-placed sculpture will enhance your garden’s beauty and reflect your personal style. Give your garden a feeling of elegance, a feeling of harmony and also a touch of restraint. “Sculpture becomes almost personified,” Asher says. “It’s just like a friend that is always standing there greeting you.”
This:”Sisters,” inspired by the artist’s close relationship with her own sisters.
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Leap”
First impressions: Sculpture can also be showcased within an element of surprise. Place sculpture in pockets along a meandering path to create inspirational moments of pause for passersby, Asher says.
And, on a practial note, where the place, ensure that the sculpture is secure and well balanced, away from obstacles that may knock it over.
This:”Leap,” at a vibrant powder-coated finish.
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Kismet”
Placement and equilibrium: Use sculpture to dramatize and highlight your picture’s finest focal points.
This:”Kismet,” in weathered steel.
TerraSculpture
A helix-like detail of”Kismet” brings the viewer into peer closer in the sculpture’s dimensional shape.
Modern Garden Statues And Yard Art
“Kismet” appears here in a stainless steel finish, which entirely changes its look. The piece has been installed in a shallow pool of water, highlighting its natural attributes.
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Curvas”
While it may seems just fine to situate a piece of artwork at the bottom of your patio measures, maybe there’s a much better place for this. As you stand at the garden, use your attention for a guide. What area earns your notice? Can it be a bare place beneath the canopy of the sycamore tree? Or is it a sweeping yard enclosed by an evergreen hedge? These may be the ideal places for artwork or sculpture.
This: The sensuous lines of”Curvas” create a hillside feel dynamic.
TerraSculpture
“Curvas” creates a powerful statement in a courtyard setting. The weathered steel patina echoes the vintage brick wall. This four-sided piece is the most successful where it can be appreciated from each side, which is the reason why it has been situated so that the viewer can walk around the whole sculpture.
Garden Statues And Yard Art
Keep the planting layout as simple as possible. Ornamental grasses such as sedges or miscanthus, or evergreen shrubs and bamboos are beautiful companions to sculpture. Concentrate on color and texture of foliage rather than flower color when designing outdoor spaces where there’ll be sculpture. Let the boldness and contrast of the sculpture create the play.
This:”Snap” combines whimsy, scale and color in 1 piece.
TerraSculpture
A magical detail of a few of those”peas.”
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Relaxed”
Consider scale as the”heft” of the artwork — such as its material, shape and shape — particularly as the garden relates to a house and the larger environment.” You should take into consideration not just the immediate surroundings, but also the background,” Asher says. “A mountain, a sea view, the skies, looming royal trees, or possibly a wall or fence — all these components should be contemplated.”
This:”Relaxed” combines weathered steel and stainless steel at a sublime sculptural statement.
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Taffy”
When well crafted, a sculpture is among the most sustainable components it is possible to place in any garden. It needs no water and needs minimal maintenance. Its principal requirement is just your appreciation.Exterior artwork must be able to withstand any sort of weather and extreme temperatures, so make sure your piece is created of materials such as steel, bronze or stone to last a lifetime.
This:”Taffy,” an aptly called, fluid twist of weathered steel.
TerraSculpture
TerraSculpture “Closer”
Proportion is a near relative to scale as a garden is a three-dimensional area seen from several points of view. “What intrigues me is that we are juxtaposing something artificial into a completely organic environment,” Asher describes. “I really like the contrast.”
This:”Closer” is equally playful and sophisticated at a modern space.
Contemporary Garden Statues And Yard Art
There’s a remarkable difference between decorative garden accessories and outdoor sculpture, Asher clarifies. She definitely favors the latter. “Enjoying art should be part of our everyday life. In Southern Californiawe invest as much time outdoors as we invest inside, so that I think people need to start looking to their outdoor environments within an extension of their residence — without walls but with much more artful possibilities.”
More:
Selecting and Placing Sculptures at the Garden
Move Big With Sculpture at Home