The artistic touch

Nestled amid foliage or hung on a wall, a work of art can completely transform a garden or outdoor living space

Words: Karen Booth

The bright red Sphere sculpture from Lump Sculpture Studio sits in a sea of white gravel. artingreen.com.au

Choosing art and decor for the garden is a subjective thing. There are guidelines you can follow to get the scale and positioning right, but when it comes down to it, you need to trust your instincts. If you love it, buy it. After all, you are the one who will be looking at it day in, day out.

Outdoor decor and sculpture comes in many forms. Handcrafted metal birds, stone spheres, laser-cut Corten steel wall panels, decorative pots, sculptural fountains … even found objects can be turned into pieces of art, adding character and whimsy to a garden.

Before you start shopping, give some thought to the role you want the artwork to play in your outdoor living area or garden. Are you looking for something to provide a finishing touch to an outdoor room or a courtyard, or something that will sit at the end of a garden path, beckoning the viewer and acting as a focal point?

MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE

Perspective, scale and size go hand-in-hand and should be kept in mind when selecting and positioning art or decorative elements in the garden. Consider the size of the space where the object will go, any nearby structures or dominant elements and the viewing points.

Scale is all-important and if your sculpture or fountain is too big, or too small, for the intended area, it will look out of place and out of proportion. If buying an expensive oneoff piece or having a piece commissioned, a good tip is to place something of the same dimensions actually in your garden, to get a feel for the impact the artwork will have before committing yourself.

You need to think about where you will be viewing your artwork from and remember that the outlook from the windows of your home is just as important as the views from various points within your garden. Framing an artwork is about both masking things and

FEATURE

Outdoor Art

highlighting. Distracting elements as well as nearby eyesores must be blocked out for the artwork to have maximum impact.

LOCATION, LOCATION

There are some simple guidelines you can follow to ensure that your new artwork sits in harmony with your garden. The first thing is to keep in mind that a large piece needs space around it to be viewed completely while a small object will be lost if viewed from a distance. Also keep in mind that straight garden elements can be used to direct the line of sight to your artwork. At the end of a path or through archways and avenues of trees works best.

For added impact, statues or urns can be placed on a mount. Depending on your garden ’ s style, use a pedestal, plinth, post or tree trunk but make sure the height of the mount is in keeping with the height of the sculpture. Lighting will allow the artwork to still be a focal point at night.

To subtly merge an object with the garden, use a backdrop or frame of plants. To make a piece stand out, you can frame

EXPRESS YOURSELF

“Garden art adds personality to a garden — and reflects the personality of the person choosing it — so on one level, there is no right or wrong way of choosing. However, considering the relationship and connection it will bring to your space is key, so respecting the surrounding structures, shapes and tones will allow one to make an informed decision, ” says Katrine Mardini, senior landscape architect with OUTHOUSE design. “Also, consider factors such as access, natural light, shadows, privacy and level of impact — and whether you want it to be a large statement piece or a subtle feature.

“Garden art can be interpreted in many ways and presented in many forms, whether a 3D sculpture, a wall-mounted artwork or a 2D decorative panel, ” she continues. “By choosing the right form, colour and size, a work of art creates a great focal point and functions as a key feature in a garden. Art may also be used to enhance depth or add height and layering in a garden, or simply to add an extra splash of colour and interest. For example, a metal sculpture that is uplit and positioned in a clear sightline from the house creates a visually pleasing view and a sense of connection. The outdoor wall art and screening in this garden were handcrafted using recycled metal. andrewplymin.com it overhead with an archway, or make a pattern around the base of the work with paving, gravel, low hedging or a perimeter planting of groundcover plants. If you can grow vines along a wall, an interesting technique is to place a sculpture in front of the wall and then cut the leaves away from it, making a reverse frame.

UP THE WALL

Wall art is a clever way to add decorator flair, especially in small gardens, courtyards and balconies as the art sits on the vertical plane rather than claiming valuable ground space. Popular choices include metal plaques with simple graphic images, laser-cut metal screens and outdoor mirrors.

A mirror gives a small space a whole new perspective. Placed “just so ” , a mirror welcomes light into dark corners and gives the impression of increased space and depth. Mirrors can be of any style — gothic, industrial, rustic, shabby chic, highly contemporary. You could even have a mirror designed to look like a gate or window, giving the impression you could step or look through into another space.

When choosing the right spot for your mirror, look at places in your garden that you ’d never normally go to see what would be reflected. This enables you to determine whether there are any unsightly things you don ’t want attention drawn to. Also look next door — perhaps there is a large and leafy tree canopy you ’d like to reflect.

This pair of abstract sculptures acts as a focal point that provides a pleasing view from the lounge area. ingejabaralandscapes.com.au

Two decorative objects, a stone lantern and a traditional Japanese sculpture, sit nestled among the plants. kiharalandscapes.com.au

LIVING SCULPTURE

“When designers talk about architectural planting, they ’ re referring to the use of plants with strong structural lines or sculptural shapes. The aim? To use them to make a strong statement or create a focal point. They will vary in size and shape but the one thing all architectural plants have in common is their strong form and the fact that they will definitely stand out, ” says Glenice Buck, horticulturist and founder of Glenice Buck Designs.

“Plants considered for architectural planting tend to have spear-like or strappy leaves and their leaves will be strongly defined. The leaves or trunk may also contribute textural interest or the foliage provide colour contrast. These bold foliage plants are grown for their form and habit rather than their flowers, although some do produce beautiful blooms.

“When using these plants in your landscape you need to think of them as living pieces of sculpture and use them where you would use a statue or a piece of art in the garden. They are used as the feature of the garden, to create interest, to give you a strong accent point or to draw the eye to a certain location.

SCREEN SCENE

The allure of laser-cut metal screens cannot be overstated. There is something uniquely compelling about the contrast between the strength of the metal and the typically delicate-looking, often quite intricate patterning of the laser cutting. Standing alone in a garden, fixed to a fence or backlit to create a magical nightscape, these lasercut works of art can be found in gardens right around the country, gracing all manner of settings, from the highly contemporary to the charmingly rustic.

Laser-cut screens can be made from a variety of different metals and feature finishes of various kinds. Some of the choices include powdercoated mild steel, Corten “ rusted” steel, brushed or polished stainless steel, and metals that have been powdercoated in a colour to match your outdoor decorating scheme.

OUTSIDE THE BOX

Garden decor can come in many guises. Pots, fire pits, garden gates, letterboxes — these can all be works of art in their own right, and as they perform a dual function, can be space savers in smaller gardens. Then there are pieces made out of found, salvaged or recycled materials. Choosing something made from “ pre-loved” materials brings all of the visual elements and energy that the material had in its original form. Wood will have aged and often changed in its look, developing an interesting patina, and pieces made from disused metal objects speak of their history.

Pots are another decorative element you can introduce. These are available in a huge array of styles, materials and colours, including, at the high end, pots that incorporate lighting and those that have been designed to look like modern sculptures. And if you want to delight two senses — sight and sound — add a designer water feature to your garden.

Ultimately, the knack to decorating an outdoor space is to observe it, taking account of such things as viewing points and scale, and think through how you want to use it. Measuring up is important too but once you know what you want and where you want to put it, be confident in your choices and then just sit back and enjoy.

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Outdoor Art

Salvaged timber poles and sculptural cacti have been combined to create a unique art installation. phillipjohnson.com.au

This custom-designed water feature with a metal orb on top, is lit at night for added impact. cosdesign.com.au