Actually I don't really have a garden - apart from my vegetable area - so it is one of my 'to do's' for this year, creating a garden at my workshop. It will have to be goose friendly and sculpture inclusive - really it will be a very small sculpture garden. It needs to just blend into the surrounding open countryside too. I'm enjoying searching for ideas and making plans.
A carved stone seated female figure - early 20th century, circle of Mary spencer Watson.
I got a bit distracted recently when I saw that Will Fisher is having a sale at Christie's in preparation for relocation to new premises for his company Jamb. Items from his collection going under the hammer include sculpture and garden ornaments. I've selected a few items I would bid for, to bring back for my new garden.
Quern Stone Mortar
Pair of Sandstone Urns
Sandstone Gargoyle Head
Sandstone Lion's Head
An Assortment of Architectural Mouldings
And I could not resist a few engravings - these can perhaps influence the styling of the garden along with the Mouldings - but they would have to find a home inside.
I'm wondering which is the best way round - do I make the garden and then add the finishing touches of ornaments and decoration or do I lay out all my objects and create the garden around them, for them.
Mustn't forget the objective - to tidy up the surrounds of the workshop and yard making a garden area to show my sculpture and stonework.
There was just one more item - the geese would love this (so would I - alfresco bathing!).
Large Marble Bath
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Jennifer,
ReplyDeletea book that helped me think about creating the garden at my studio was Russell Paige's "The Education of a Gardener." You can get it at the library or find a paperback copy. Mine is now dogeared, underlined and highlighted. He really got me to think about space and how I wanted to move people through it to see what I want them to see....Kind of like creating a large sculpture, yes?
Make Structure before plants. Or at least have a plan.
Decide on pathways, access - leave room for trucks to load your sculpture. Know any view you don't want to see...which lets you create walls with plants or actual walls to hang sculpture on or to frame your work. Be on the lookout for 3 foot concrete culverts
as they make great pedestals! I get mine at salvage yards. Plastic is lighter but it's plastic, even painted it isn't as nice as the rougher concrete surfaces.
Think about the path of the sun to show off reliefs. South facing looks good all day, facing east/west gets morning/afternoon light, north for relief is dead unless you add lighting.
Best of luck with your new sculpture garden! (It's nice to have people come to you instead of hauling heavy work to them.)
Patrick, thanks so much for this - brilliant. I have begun to make drawn plans as you say, and this has helped - light so important and space for vehicles/lifting gear to get into the spaces so important. I have run over and backed into lots of things trying to operate the forklift in small spaces! Will look out for Russell Paige's book, looks like just what I need! Thankyou.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I misspelled his last name. It's Page. Your new post is a clear call for an Italian garden: greens and structure and sculpture. ( That doesn't mean you cant have flowers...I tell myself that I can have all the color I want as long as it is a choir, NOT a cocktail party.
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