Garden Wall Art

When asked to name our favorite room of the house, many of us will quickly choose the back yard.  A kiss of sunshine, a breath of fresh air, and the tranquility found in nature are a perfect antidote for the stress we experience trying to maintain today’s fast-paced, demanding lifestyle.

There are many artistic elements that can be used to create the exact ambience you want in your own back yard.  One option is garden wall art.  Art pieces strategically placed can delight the senses, amuse the spirit, and set the tone for the time spent there.

Choices for garden wall art run the gamut from whimsical and fun to serene and spiritual.  Fruit trees hugging the wall in the topiary style are apt to transport our thoughts to the abundant Provencal countryside when in bloom and bearing fruit.  Or a wall-to-wall mural or maybe just one wall simply painted in your favorite color is a quick and relatively easy do-it-yourself project that is sure to provide big impact.

Your garden wall art might feature a fountain fed by a mischievous gargoyle inspired by a love of Medieval architecture, art, or literature or you could have a statue of a revered saint watching over your sacred space.  Garden sprites and faeries are a popular theme and can readily be incorporated for use on a wall.  Garden walls throughout the sun-drenched southwestern United States often have a smiling terra cotta sun shining benevolently above the garden. 

Bamboo, wind chimes, and gently gurgling fountains along the walls of your garden evoke the timeless tranquility of a Buddhist garden while weatherproofed renditions of African and pre-Columbian artifacts may transport your thoughts to another time altogether.

Just about the only common denominator is that your choice of materials used in your garden “room” must be able to withstand the weather.  There is any number of materials available today which are excellent for creating unique garden wall art.  Some excellent materials to consider are stone, terra cotta, brick, wood, and masonry.

When you decide to transport your own back yard into a land of enchantment with the addition of garden wall art, it would probably be a wise idea to contact someone in your community specially trained to create this type of artwork.  He or she has most likely done a number of similar projects, understands how to work with the quirks of the weather in your particular part of the world, and has an excellent eye for art.  And don’t forget to check out the back-yard paradise of your perspective craftsman. It could be a very telling visit.