Do you want to include sculpture in your garden? There is a lot of bad garden sculpture on the market. Just because it has featured at the Chelsea Flower Show, does not ensure that the work is of good quality – either artistically, or in its construction. Let’s get into it, shall we?  There are several things for you to consider if you want to include something truly original and personal in your garden.  A piece of art that will potentially not only hold its value but increase over time.

In 2020 The English Garden magazine published an article entitled: ‘Garden Sculpture: A guide to picking a piece for your outdoor space’. The article asserts that ‘a well-chosen piece of garden sculpture brings focus and structure to an outdoor space, and there are shapes, styles, sizes and materials to suit any space or budget.’ Absolutely true, and Deputy Editor Vivienne Hambly then proceeds to outline ‘the options’.  Considerations range from the type of materials used, both in the sculpture itself and the base or plinth used in its display, form, size – both domestic scale and what she refers to as ‘High and Mighty’, the use of large sculpture to draw the eye upwards, or to create a distraction from a less favourable view. Design styles are referenced, such as ‘wit and whimsical’, ‘minimalist’, human forms and ‘likenesses’, and ‘storied pieces’ such as a reference to a piece of children’s literature, another nod towards the whimsical. The rationale for these considerations is expertly articulated and the article is supported by many fine examples of artists and suppliers.  However, what the article doesn’t tackle, and indeed can be a thorny subject, is the quality of the works on offer. Some of the makers mentioned have, at one time or another, advertised with the magazine, so perhaps this shouldn’t come as a surprise.  Many garden designers are reluctant to have this conversation, because they don’t know whether a piece of sculpture is of high quality or could be considered a work of art.  Garden designers have varied backgrounds and skillsets – being knowledgeable about art isn’t necessarily one of them.  

 

Do you really want to choose an ‘off the shelf’ sculpture for your garden?  A stainless-steel orb for example?  Oh sure, relatively easy to keep clean and withstand the elements and will add visual interest, but not very personal is it?  Anyone can have a stainless-steel orb and they are available from a wide range of suppliers in different sizes and price points.  The art in your garden can say as much about you as your choice of structural plants or the perennials in your herbaceous border. With Britons spending more time in the garden and utilising their outdoor spaces for maximum effect and enjoyment, why would you settle for something less in your garden ornamentation than something truly personal and unique?  

The UK has an incredible array of artists that you can commission to create a one-off unique piece of art for your garden.  Many are experienced at creating public art, artists whose works are recognised for their quality and craftmanship and acknowledged nationally and internationally in their reputation.  Commissioning an artist to create a bespoke work of art for your garden is not as difficult or daunting as you might expect.  Here are my considerations to help you demystify the process of purchasing a work of art that is original, individualised to your specifications, and that will hold or increase its value in the years to come.

1. RESEARCH

Educate yourself.  Why not start locally, by attending art fairs, degree shows (who knows, you could be commissioning the next Damien Hirst?) or visiting galleries and institutions. Many commercial art galleries are just there to sell to you, (though there are many excellent ones as well), but a good place to start is to speak to a publicly funded gallery or museum.  If they have a collection and work with artists, or commission artists, they will have the knowledge and expertise to be able to advise you. Ask to speak to a curator or find out if your local authority has an arts officer. They will have trained in art history, design or museum studies and will be interested in sharing that knowledge, without trying to sell you something. Many local authorities recognise the value of public sculpture for its ability to elicit civic pride, and support community cohesion and wellbeing. The expertise at a local level can help to make you aware of artists of recognised quality living in your area. 

Finding the right artist for your idea is key to the success of the commission. Once you have found an artist that you love, look at their website to really familiarise yourself with their work. Have they shown in galleries or institutions or does their work appear in named private collections? These are all marks of quality. Is there any artwork similar to what you want to commission?

Think about your budget. Every commission is different, and the artist will only be able to give you an exact price once they know more about your art commission. If their website gives an indication of price, great.  If not try doing a bit of extra research using resources such as the artnet.com website, which lists the works of over 340,000 artists. At this stage the most important thing is working out what it is that you want the artist to create for you. Find an artist whose style you like – don’t ask them to create a work in a completely different style.  A good artist will have worked for years to perfect their approach and way of working.

2. CONTACT THE ARTIST

After deciding that you like a particular artist, and when have a good idea what kind of artwork you want, get in contact with the artist, to see if they are open for commissions. A quick summary of what you want is usually fine at this stage. Examples of similar work from the artists website might be useful and ask if they need any more information from you. Try and give a clear description of what you want to commission, with examples or references if possible. How do you want the work to make you feel?  What does it represent to you?

3. AGREE ON THE DETAILS

Once the artist has responded and is happy to take on your commission, take time to work out the exact details and timeframe before any work starts.  For the buyer this is one of the most important stages of the commission process. The artist might have a procedure that they follow, if so, be guided by their advice. Always ask questions or clarifications if there is anything, you’re unsure about. Often artists will have a purchase order form, or a contract, for you to fill in at this stage.

When agreeing the details, you might want to include: technique to be used e.g. stone carving/casting, metal fabrication (ensuring material is suitable for the elements where you aim to have it displayed), size of the artwork, subject matter, any reference images that you will supply, style (if the artist works in different styles), colours to be included or any text to be included on the artwork. Agree when you can you expect initial sketches and the timeframe for finalising the design, and the making and installation of the final artwork.  Find out exactly what is included in the price. How many revisions or changes are included? Transportation and installation costs? How and when do you pay?

4. FEEDBACK & REVISIONS

Remember that revisions are a normal part of the commission process and the artist will be expecting some feedback from you. Check in with the artist as the commission progresses, but don’t expect constant updates. Do ask to see a sketch or work in progress early on, to make sure the commission is heading in the right direction. Be polite and friendly when giving feedback. Don’t expect the artist to accept endless requests for revisions. Big revisions, or changes to the brief at a late stage of the process, will mean a lot more work for the artist. Such requests might be subject to an extra fee. If possible, refer to what you agreed in the initial order form or contract.

5. FINAL ARTWORK & DELIVERY

Once you have approved the final artwork, work out how it will be delivered and safely installed. Pay any outstanding fee promptly.

You can also choose to work with a consultant on commissioning an artist rather than do all the research and groundwork yourself (although this can be a richly rewarding experience, and highly addictive!  Once you’ve commissioned an artist once, you’ll want to do it again).  The public art online index  contains details of agencies and consultancies across the UK with the expertise and local knowledge to help you find an artist that meets your needs.

A sculpture that you commission from an artist of recognised quality will be a unique, collectable, and valuable work of art that will give you enormous pride and pleasure for years to come.  Not only will you be supporting the career of an independent artist, but you will also be adding enormous value to your home with a personalised original work of art that you had a hand in bringing to life.

Do we really need to see more bronze Hare’s?