Monday, January 25, 2010

Garden Art

Artistry and gardens have gone together as long as agriculture has existed among modern man. The artist often finds himself inseparable from nature, and in the garden he has produced many great works. Modern gardeners have an endless array of natural and man made items with which to decorate their own gardens. It is no wonder then that gardening has become such a popular pastime.

Examples of Garden Art

Garden art comes in many forms. Some of the most common of these include:

  • Metal Garden Art (including copper garden art, brass ornaments, wrought iron furnishings, and steel structures)
  • Glass Garden Art (including garden orbs, gazing glass ornaments, stained glass, glass sculptures, and glass furnishings)
  • Garden Wall Art (usually a combination of materials used to create unique designs such as dream catchers to hang on vertical surfaces in gardens - like sheds and gazebos)
  • Mosaic Garden Art (multi-colored items such as birdbaths and stepping stones often made from colored ceramic, stone, glass, and similar material)

And there are many more forms. The important thing to remember is that any art you add to your garden - whether it be furnishings, ornaments, or structures like gazebos - should be well balanced with the surrounding decor.

Tips for Adding Garden Art

There are several good tips for appropriately adding decor and furnishings to your garden. These will help you make the most natural and attractive scene possible for maximum enjoyment.

1. Keep the Scale of your Surroundings

When adding decor to your garden, try to keep in mind the size of the space you're working with. You wouldn't want to add a 10 x 10 foot gazebo into a 20 x 20 foot garden space, for instance. Also, try to keep items grouped relatively by size. Putting a bird bath next to a shed probably won't be good from an observational standpoint.

2. Consider Your Theme

When creating your space with garden art, it's important to consider what 'theme' you're going for. Patterns should be consistent, and balance between different items should be maintained so that nothing clashes. You may not want Pagan elements in a classic Victorian garden, for example.

3. Harmony with Nature

However you decide to decorate your garden, at all times you should keep in mind the surrounding nature. Any elements will have to fit in to the natural trees, rocks, and terrain which is already there. Instead of squarish architecture pushing against round trees and hills or large bright objects overshadowing deep green hues, work with nature for a harmonious, relaxing atmosphere.

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