Monday, April 21, 2014

Let Metal Garden Art Give Your Yard New Life

By Essie Osborn


Even if your house is an architectural masterpiece, it won't be that impressive if the yard isn't up to scratch. A stunning garden can actually enhance your home and make it seem much more impressive than it is. Thoughtful landscaping can do wonders for the value of the property and with the clever use of metal garden art, you'll be able to impress everyone who comes to visit.

Artworks created especially for the garden and made of metal are becoming increasingly popular. They can be functional or they can be something quirky. They can be huge structures or they can be small pieces made of junk. Any object can be turned into a work of art, from hedge clippers and rakes to old engine parts and farm implements. Metals commonly used are iron, aluminum and bronze.

If you want to make something yourself, it's best to start with a simple project such as signs made of wire. Use wire that is quite thick and then simply bend it into words or phrases written in cursive lettering. These can be fixed to outer walls and used to show the street number, for instance. Another option is to fix the finished words to pieces of wood or even to trees. A functional way to use them is to make signs that indicate which flowers or herbs you've planted.

Projects for those with a higher level of skill include shapes cut out and fixed to other objects in an imaginative way. For example, make a cut-out of a bird silhouette and fix it to a tree. If you know how to weld, you'll be able to make anything you want. All you need is plenty of imagination. Then remember that the sculptures you make should fit in with the general lay-out of the yard rather than becoming an eyesore.

Kinetic artworks are a great way to add some extra flair. These pieces can move, sometimes with the help of battery power but more often by utilizing the wind or the sun. There is a huge variety of wind spinners available, some with bits of colored glass added to not only create sound but a display of light as the wind makes the different parts move.

Your artworks can also be functional. Very simple pieces to make are rain chains, which use water from the roof gutters to create stunning little water features. The kids may even help make these. Sculptures can be used to support potted plants, bird baths or even bird feeders and before you'll know it, your feathered friends may choose these structures to build their nests on. You may also use metal art to create trellises for vines or to decorate gates.

Wind and rain will cause oxidation and your artworks will become rusty over time. To prevent this, simply paint or spray them with rustproofing. There's nothing wrong with rust, however. It can even give the pieces more character.

If you don't feel confident enough in your welding skills to create your own garden art, you'll find pieces on sale at most gardening and landscaping stores. There's also a nice variety to order online. If you'd prefer something completely unique, though, it may be a good investment to commission an artist to create it for you.




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