Garden Sculptures & Statues You’ll LOVE

Are you shopping for outdoor garden sculptures? Adding a few statues to your backyard can give it an artistic look. You combine man-made art and natural beauty. Add some garden stepping stones to your statuary for a custom-built pathway for viewing. You no doubt love the beauty mother nature gives your garden. It only makes sense to complement that beauty with garden sculpture art.

You may prefer a contemporary garden sculpture or a classical alternative in your outdoor space. Some of these outdoor decorations act as fountains that do double duty as birdbaths.

Some are as tall as a person and others as small as garden gnomes. They are made from a wide variety of materials, like bronze, stone, wood, and metal. What some people consider a sculpture others view as a clump of stone or metal. This means you should always choose statues you enjoy, rather than trying to please other people. Your garden is an extension of your emotions and personality. Your garden sculptures should reflect that.

Your garden sculpture can be the focal point of your outdoor space or it can just be one of many elements worked into your design. Part of the beauty of it is that you have the flexibility to make it whatever you want.

Yard art could include:

• birdbaths
• Buddha statues
• fountains and water features
• angels or cherubs
• animals
• or even an abstract sculpture.

Some people use large outdoor sculptures but usually, at private homes and properties, you’ll see smaller pieces. 

In formal gardens, you may see larger and more exclusive sculptures than the average person has at home. But again, it’s all about creating your own space that you can be happy with. While you can find some lawn decorations at your local garden center, stone sculptures have long been preferred for this purpose. Let’s look into why. 

Why Some People Prefer Stone Garden Sculptures

Pretend you are shopping at a garden sculpture sale. You see a few bronze, stone, and wooden statues. You find one of each material that you really like but you just can’t make a decision. Unfortunately, you can’t afford them all. Why should you choose a stone garden sculpture over some other material? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this material when compared to others.

When you have a statue custom-made by a sculptor, things can get expensive. This is true no matter what material or medium is used. That’s why a lot of people shop online or at their local gardening center for garden sculptures and statues.

The products are not one-of-a-kind and unique, but they are affordable. While we are discussing price, that is one of the benefits of purchasing a stone garden sculpture (you much see this adorable meditating elephant sculpture!). It can be a lot less expensive than one made of marble, bronze, and even wood.

Rocks and stones exist in nature. They can last millions of years without anyone having to clean or maintain them. This means your stone garden sculptures are carefree. You won’t have to devote time to maintenance like you would with a plaster, resin, wood, or bronze statue.

Stone also looks like it belongs in a garden since it was made by nature. These are just a few reasons many gardeners prefer stone over another material when choosing a decorative statue.

Small  Duck StatueAncient Graffiti Eight-Stone Balancing Cairn Cat Statue – Loving Cats Indoor Outdoor Grey Stone Finish

Beautiful Bronze Garden Sculptures

Bronze is a combination of copper and tin. It has a very unique appearance. Outdoors in the sunshine, it can be very beautiful. This is one of a few reasons bronze garden sculptures are very popular.

Bronze is not nearly as plentiful as rocks and stones. For this reason, bronze garden sculptures are going to cost you more money than many other types of statues. They will be a very beautiful part of your garden decor, however, if you choose to go with them.

Some people like to use one or two bronze pieces as highlight sculptures in their garden and then they may use stone sculptures for other parts of their garden design. 

Bronze Cranes for Yard Garden Sculpture Boy and Dog Statue Based on Sylvia Shaw Judson Sculpture – Bronze

This is also why you will not see too many bronze statues that are very big. If they are long or tall the price tag can run literally into the thousands of dollars. That isn’t to say bronze garden art doesn’t belong in your yard. It just means that you could pay some serious money if the product you choose is large.

How to care for bronze garden statues

You should also consider what it takes to care for bronze garden sculptures. The deep, coppery brown glow of this metal is uniquely beautiful. It only stays that way if you clean it regularly. The first step is to remove any loose dirt or debris with a brush. Then you want to spray your statue with pressurized water from a garden hose. Rub firmly from top to bottom with a damp sponge.

You can use a mild soap with your water. If so, be environmentally responsible. Simple Green soap cleaners are non-toxic and safe for the environment (and your bronze statue). Let the sculpture dry. This is best performed on a day that is not very humid. While your bronze garden sculptures are drying in the sun, head to your hardware store. Get a small China bristle brush. Purchase car wax or some similar type of wax.

When you get back home, make sure your statue is totally dry. Wax it from top to bottom. Apply a thin but thorough coat, preferably in the sun so the drying process is quicker. Get in tiny nooks and crannies with a toothbrush or small craft brush. You can actually see the details of your sculpture come alive as you are waxing it. Let dry and then buff gently with a towel or shoe shine brush.

This is more maintenance than is needed for most garden sculptures, so keep that in mind before buying. The payoff is visually worthwhile. Your sculpture garden will be beautiful for many years to come!

What to Remember When Choosing Large Garden Sculptures

35″ Metal Decorative Peacock Standing Art Garden Sculpture Decor

The average homeowner doesn’t have a huge yard or garden. The area you have to landscape might actually be small. In these cases, think long and hard before you choose a large sculpture to decorate your yard. It can really overpower your beautiful plants and flowers. If you do use large pieces of garden decor, consider just one or two pieces to be used as focal points along with plants, flowers, and other smaller pieces. 

This is not to say large garden sculptures aren’t the perfect choice for you in your yard. It just means the statue that looks great at your nursery may look massively large when you get it home. The nursery could be outdoors and 20, 50, or even 100 times the size of your garden. This makes a larger statue seem smaller than it will be when you get it home.

How About Wooden Garden Sculptures?

Garden Decorative Reclaimed Teak Mushroom Sculptures Set of 3, Garden Oaks Specialties Medium Wooden WindmillHand Carved Flying Wooden Owl Statue

People don’t usually think of wood as a medium for art. Artists and sculptors often practice with different types of material. They become very proficient in creating beautiful forms of art with a material another artist hates using. Because stones and metals are the most common mediums for statues, it may be hard for you to find wooden garden sculptures.

In this case, the Internet is your friend. Wooden garden sculpture art can be found online. What you need to remember is that wood obviously requires more maintenance than stone or metal. You’re going to have to factor in staining, treating, or painting as forms of regular maintenance. The end result of an artist’s efforts with wood should also be considered.

This means you are probably not going to be able to find a crane garden sculpture that is made of wood. Fairy garden sculptures and angel garden sculptures are probably not going to be made of wood either. Whatever medium you choose, garden sculpture art can add some unique or classical beauty to your yard.

Other Outdoor Decor and Types of Garden Sculptures

You might also use a stainless steel sculpture, wind chimes, a gazing ball, bird feeders, and other elements within your garden to personalize it and suit your own desires and tastes.

This outdoor living area is an extension of your home and your personality. From the landscape design to the finishing touches, this should be a special place for you to enjoy relaxing, watching sunrises or sunsets, spending time with family, or inviting a friend over for tea.  

You could have a covered gazebo, a swing, or a garden bench for sitting and soaking up some sun. Your statues can represent things you love or things that hold positive memories for you or of a loved one. Or they can just be fun, quirky things you picked because they looked cute. There aren’t really any rules to doing garden sculptures and statues, and no “right” or “wrong” way to decorate your garden and lawn. 

These ideas should help you if you’re just getting started. We’d love to see or hear about your ideas, too!

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