What garden sculptures can be made of concrete and other materials?

We are accustomed to decorative figures in old public parks and gardens. They give the landscape a special touch, set it to thoughtfulness or cheer. Nowadays, private landowners also use sculptures and three-dimensional compositions of various materials to decorate their plots. We create garden sculptures of concrete and other materials: we understand the intricacies of the process.

This fashion came to us relatively recently. This began when the average owners of dachas and country houses ceased to perceive their land exclusively as a source of fresh harvest and the territory for flowers and shrubs. Where there is a place for an artificial lake, a fountain and a bridge, one cannot do without garden sculpture. And it does not necessarily have to be a product from the store.

To translate such designs into life, deep artistic skills and special skills in the use of tools are not always required. There is really nothing to do without without it, so it is without the availability of free time and a great desire to complete our plans.

The work on the creation of a garden figure may require a wide variety of tools depending on the material to be dealt with. This may be gypsum or cement mortar, stone or wood. To create a sculptural masterpiece, can be useful:

• compass;
• knife;
• soap;
• sunflower oil;
• various forms;
• glue;
• paints;
• varnishes;
• tools for carving.

A significant part of the necessary tools and materials, as a rule, is located in the household of any house. To make the result of work truly unusual, When creating a garden sculpture, you can use paint that glows at night. Such inks are made on the basis of phosphor (phosphorescent pigment), which accumulates light in a day and then gives it up in the dark. From the point of view of ecology, this is a completely safe product, you can safely use it, achieving amazing results in decorating the garden.

Even ordinary stones, covered with such a composition, can create the impression of mystery, let alone talk about more complex figures. There are luminous paints for metal, glass and glossy surfaces, wood, plastic and concrete. The choice is made in favor of one or the other, depending on the intention of the author of the sculpture.

One or another modern garden sculpture can be attributed to a specific stylistic group, eg:

• Classics and neoclassics combine sculptures made of natural stone or metal. These are status elements of rich parks in a classic style. Such statues can be of various sizes. It is important how rich material is used to create them.
• Small sculptures. They, as a rule, serve as a background for more large-scale (main) figures.Can be made of wood or polymeric materials. Relatively small in size.
• Art sculpture of the summer garden. May have vague abstract forms, extravagant appearance. To create such elements, metal, plastic, cement, plaster and even assembly foam are mainly used.

For the manufacture of the castle in the garden of the stones will require pipes. Their number depends on how many towers will be in the conceived decorative structure. You will also need stones, cement, broken tiles and large plastic bottles of beer or soda. Pipe-towers need to be concreted first. It is on them that the whole composition can hold.

Then stones should be applied to each turret, using cement mortar as a binding material. The windows of the towers should be cut out of the bottle and cemented. Roofs need to overlay with broken tiles. If you “enclose” such a castle with a wall of stones, make an arch for the gate, you get a complete composition. To color the stones is an occupation, subject even to children. Using dyes that are resistant to moisture, paint the appropriate stones, lay them out of various forms on the beds or lawns.

To create a solid sculpture of concrete, prepare a solution of cement and sand, mixing them in a ratio of 1: 3. Of the materials that are on hand, prepare the frame of the future figure. For small products will be quite hard wire. On such a basis layering of the solution, giving the desired shape. After drying, the sculpture must be primed and painted.

Garden sculptures can be divided into several types:

• The statues. These are volumetric forms, as a rule, large in size. A human or animal figure may coincide with the proportions and dimensions of a real person or beast.
• Obelisks. These are sculptures that look like a pyramid. As a rule, they are performed on tetrahedral supports, they are narrowed upwards.

• Steles - stone slabs, standing perpendicular to the ground. Images and inscriptions corresponding to the chosen subject are put on the steles.
• Homemade sculptures. Such products often become part of the dacha plots and house territories of country cottages. Their sizes are small.Often they depict animals, birds, cartoon characters, and books.

A separate direction can be distinguished curly trees and shrubs, which is called "topiary." Decorative figures from living plants have long become an integral part of the park environment. With their help, any garden can be given an unusual and attractive look.

A common material for creating garden sculptures is wood. It is suitable for the image of large and small figures. Often this material is chosen in order to portray the characters from fairy tales (Russian, foreign). To do this, use pine, aspen, oak or beech. In order for such works to preserve their original appearance as long as possible, they are impregnated with protective compounds and varnished. Sometimes ordinary snags, tree roots are used.

The initial form of the material sometimes itself suggests what the result should be in the process of processing.

Flowerpots, bowls, columns and various geometric shapes are created from natural stone. This may be, for example, granite or marble. Suitable stone for creating a strict and rich exteriors.If for the embodiment of the stone bowl you need certain skills to work with such material, in order to adopt the natural form of the stone, only good taste is required.

Luxurious sculptures are obtained from polyresin. This is an artificial stone, which consists of acrylic resin, crushed natural stone and other additives. This material is resistant to moisture and temperature extremes. A common material for creating sculptures is gypsum. It is inexpensive and easily handled. The figures, which are obtained from this material, are fragile, but with careful care can serve for a long time.

More solid sculptures can be made of concrete, using ready-made forms or using formwork. Compared with plaster or wood products such decorations will last much longer, although concrete is not eternal. It collapses under the influence of temperature changes. However, for some time such a statue will delight the soul.

Decorative figures from bushes and trees also look interesting, although they require constant care.An alternative can be sculptures made of artificial grass, which can be bought and put on the site. They will perfectly fit into the green corner of your site, while not requiring special attention, for a long time maintaining the original elegant look. You can order or perform their own sculpture of metal.

Forged products can be a highlight in the landscape, if they comply with the overall design concept. You can independently make a sculpture of wire and cement, as well as other available materials.

When placing garden sculptures it is important not to forget about the ratio of the dimensions of the figure itself and the area of ​​the territory in which it will be located. Sculptures of impressive size are appropriate in a large garden, in a small area they will seem to be giants who have come to trample everything around. For small figures, the smallest green area will do.

The forms of garden sculptures can be very diverse (from simple geometric shapes to silhouettes of people and animals). A fabulous unicorn, Baba Yaga, a cat or an angel can please children. The soccer ball will be a reflection of the interests of the owners of the house.For a specific design decision fit the image of the torso or antique bowl.

When creating and choosing sculptures should pay attention to their color. It can be a natural color scheme (for example, a green or a shade of a certain stone). Many garden figures are painted in different colors, covering them with paint outside or adding a certain pigment to the material from which they create the sculpture.

To accommodate garden figures choose certain places, for example:

• on the porch;
• under the bush;
• at the entrance to the plot;
• at the well, lake;
• at the beginning or end of the track;
• in a specific functional area.

For example, a beautiful angel is better settled in a secluded corner of the garden, which will create an atmosphere of reflection and pacified contemplation. Dynamic fabulous beast take root at the playground.

Handmade sculpture made of plaster, wooden figure,construction of car tires or concrete masterpieces, combined into a composition, can be an example that will be adopted by many. Especially if you post photos in a social network, demonstrating in stages every step of production.

The meditating frog will simultaneously amuse and remind you of the need to be calm in any situation.

Cheerful gnome is a fairly common decoration of any garden. The dear angel will fill with comfort any garden and will become the interlocutor of the one who wishes to think in silence.

See how to make garden figures and fountains with your own hands in the next video.