How to Buy the Right Sculpture

Outdoor sculpture expands spaces by drawing the eye to a particular spot in the garden, park or courtyard, then punctuating it with humor, beauty, power or another desired mood. Sculpture has a satisfying solidness that fills emptiness, prompts thoughts and inspires feelings. Some outdoor sculpture is just plain fun.

Is there an accepted method of choosing just the right sculpture for a spot on your own property? Not really. You can put anything you want wherever you want. However, we can provide some words of advice that might help you accomplish the effect you hope for - and avoid some of the pitfalls of sculpture installation.

Nuts and bolts: the technical side of outdoor sculpture If your sculpture doesn't fit in the space you have chosen for it, or if the material doesn't last long in your climate, or if it's too heavy for a garden bench to hold it ... then you've failed even before you choose a style or composition that pleases you. So that's where we'll begin. For clues about how the sculpture might fit into your space, review the specs. How tall and wide is it? How much does it weigh? What's it made of? Match these aspects of the sculpture to characteristics of the spot where you'll put it, and make sure everything fits. For example, don't put an outdoor stone sculpture where something could fall into it or it could fall into something else. Make sure it will fit under tree branches. Place your outdoor metal sculpture where it won't block a pretty view or be sprinkled by tap water - unless you want the effects of a chemically-induced patina. If you are planning an outdoor wall sculpture, make sure you have a foolproof way to anchor it to the wall you have in mind before you buy it.

Test the size and look

One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying sculpture is choosing the wrong size. You might think it would be fun to purchase a huge contemporary stone sculpture for your garden, then when you get it home you discover it overpowers the space. Or the reverse might happen: you purchase a small primitive outdoor sculpture to fill a spot in the garden, but it gets lost.

Not only is size often an issue, it can be a challenge to anticipate the way a sculpture will look in your yard. What if it looks obnoxious, or gets lost among the blooms?

Use this trick to help you visualize how the piece will really look:
Take a wide photo of the spot in your yard, garden or other outdoor space where you will place the sculpture. Blow up the picture big enough to see the trees, plants and other features of the area. Capture an image on the computer of the sculpture you intend to buy. Increase or decrease the image's size to match the scale of your photo. Trim around the image of the sculpture and stick it on the photo temporarily, so you can move it and try different spots.

How much is it worth?

Although many outdoor sculptures are mass produced, some art lovers buy signed sculpture as an investment. To ensure you are paying a fair amount for your sculpture - and that it will hold its value - follow these tips:

• Research the company or artist, reviewing a number of pieces they sell. Look for pieces by the same artist being sold in other places. This will give you an idea whether the outdoor sculpture you are buying is priced fairly.



• Ask for documentation verifying that your sculpture was, indeed, created by the artist whose name appears on it. Popular artists' sculptures have been known to be copied, reproduced from inferior materials and sold at cheaper prices. It's tempting to purchase a piece at a cheaper price, but you will be disappointed if you ever decide to sell it.



• If in doubt, enlist the services of an art expert to help you verify materials, artists and values.

Whether you're looking for an outdoor wall sculpture to enhance a patio, a classical statue to grace a garden, an outdoor kinetic sculpture to delight visitors, or a whimsical gnome to please your grandchildren, think ahead to make sure the piece you buy will fit your needs.