Last week I talked about rocks and how they can help jazz up a garden and take your home from boring to thoughtful. Well the next level is Steel Art and Sculptures. Steel art comes in a few different forms but in short it is made up of simplified, smaller sculptures. It is great for adding accents to your garden. Sculptures on the other hand, are a serious piece of art that you build a garden around. Sculptures can be expensive or cheap but if they are done well, they will make people appreciate the garden, and that is our goal. Following are a few examples that show how to apply them to your garden.
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We are now entering the next level of working with a garden. If your goal is to create a space that makes your home stand out, then Steel Art and Sculptures are a wonderful way to add that extra style to it.
Before we go any further, let me announce a small disclaimer. The Steel Art and Sculptures I have found in the following pictures are representative only, of what we have in stock. Our stock changes regularly as supply comes and goes. So if you see something here that you love, I will try to get it, if we don’t actually have it at the yard when you need it.
Steel Garden Stake Art
Steel Garden Stake Art is an easy and cost effective way to add your personality to your garden. The number one rule here though is very simple. DO NOT PUT THEM EVERYWHERE! Please don't become like some "crazy cat woman" and end up being someone who has steel art all over your garden. These only work well when they are used sparingly and tastefully. I personally like them when I can see them from a long way off, like right down the back of the garden. It takes a few seconds to realise that they are not moving and so there is that sense of, "is that real", while you work it out.
This rule also applies for putting a single piece in among the plants. Semi-hide it. Make it something people will discover. Steel Art works well in raised garden beds and even in smaller planters and pots. All in all, this comes down to adding a little story to your garden. Make it interesting.
Steel Standing Art
Standing Art made from steel can be both flat (two dimensional) or realistic (three dimensional). They are free standing and can be placed on solid ground like a path or rocks as well as being put among the plants. The size of these are normally larger than the Steel Stake Art and therefore the price will increase but these are often good enough to make a center piece that you can build a garden around rather than just highlighting something else.
As you can see from the pictures above the Standing Steel Art is more artistic. The Crane on the right is heading into sculpture territory but not quite there. Looking at pictures of botanical gardens and how they lay out their pieces will show you a clear way of not using too much but having these pieces add a lot of charisma to your garden.
Steel Privacy Screens
Steel Privacy Screens are an instant and contemporary way of creating a private space. You can section off an area of a yard to be more personal or use them to block out an unsightly view.
Using them as an added feature you can attach them to an already existing wall or fence and have the screen add texture and highlights to an otherwise boring place. I have seen them used well to cover up things like a water tank or pump. Even though steel is not a new element, laser cutting has added many ways to add in patterns and customise the design so they are either quite open or somewhat dense. This makes them a contemporary element in today's garden.
Creating small areas with screens on three sides and having plants behind them makes for a lovely retreat area. Making a small area to be an outdoor lounge room near the BBQ is one of the best uses I have seen for these, as they add so much style without looking like you were trying to.
Steel Sculpture
If you really want to make a statement in your garden then there is only one thing to do and that is to create the garden around piece of artwork. The steel sculpture is the best to work with here. Yes they are expensive and yes they can take time to find the right one for your personal garden. But when you do! Wow it makes such a difference.
The artwork on the left draws you into it. The garden is there to support it as it is the main focus. At this level you are creating art itself. People are going to stand around it and stare at it and even even wonder how hard it was to make something this good. Some people are going to think you have overdone it. Others are going to be wowed by it. The most important thing here is that YOU are pleased. When you look at it, does it take you somewhere special. Does it capture the feeling you wanted for the garden.
Steel Wall Art
The Steel Wall Art is a bit of a phenomenon. The man cave has certainly grasped this concept well but it also works really well out in your outdoor living areas. You can use it on walls and fences and even create features with it. The sky is the limit.
On the right we have a personal favourite of mine. I love the rich rusted look that appears over time against the clean back wall. The simple pattern cut into the steel and added to by the lighting makes this really pop. The wow factor it would add to any garden or outdoor space is amazing.
Our supplier of Steel Art is happy to custom-make anything to your specifications. So just call in and let us know your idea and we will get you a quote.
Have I missed anything? If I have please share with me and I will update the post.
Have a great day.
Cheers,