Wood Cremation Urns

Once upon a time, urns for ashes were merely functional, even boring, pieces that were either buried in the ground or ended up in the dusty back corner of a closet.  Since their purpose was simply to house cremated ashes, their designs were utilitarian, often only available as traditional vases or rectangular boxes in shades of black, grey, or brown.  The last words one would associate with urns for ashes would be “attractive” or “beautiful.”  But times have changed.  The dramatic injection of creativity in the funeral industry in recent decades has resulted in not only a great deal more choices in urns for ashes, but now those choices are themselves true works of art.  Talented artisans now create both custom-made and off-the-shelf options for urns so that families are able to both memorialize a deceased loved one as well as make a dramatic statement about his or her life with a piece of art that will be cherished forever.

Fully understanding the development in the artistic quality of cremation urns that have become available in recent years is aided by an understanding of the elements of art, each of which is carefully considered as urns are crafted by talented artists.  The “elements of art” include form, line, shape, color, texture, space, and value, and even a passing glance at today’s cremation urns makes it clear that these artistic elements are carefully woven into all the urns available.

“Form” refers to any three-dimensional shape that includes volume inside of it, and “line” is the term for any continuous mark made on the surface of a form by a moving point.  Because of the intricate designs now used on cremation urns, the level of detail in the lines on each form has reached a level never before available.  The complex lines of many options for urns clearly convey that they many are not machine-made but crafted by hand.  Truly, a cremation urn has become a new type of canvas on which amazing lines now create dramatic visual effects.

Baseball Memorial

Another element of art is “shape,” which simply refers to an enclosed space.  New levels of innovation have been achieved in the shape of urns for ashes today – everything from baseball holders to golf clubs to teddy bear urns to scuba gear to actual replicas of beloved pets.  The possibilities in the shape of an urn are limited only by the imagination, and the same is true of “color” as well.  What used to be a drab artifact is now infused with every hue imaginable in every possible “intensity, which is the term for the strength or purity of the color.  Gone are the days of seeing mostly black and grey on cremation urns.  Now, vibrant reds, violets, and yellows as well as amazing combination of these colors are commonly used.

“Texture,” or the feel of the surface, is another artistic element that has been used quite boldly in creating urns for ashes in recent years.  Traditional smooth surfaces are still common, but textures that actually invite touch have become available as well.  A final element of art considered in the creation of urns is “value,” which is the lightness or darkness of the piece.  The range in value of these urns compliments the wide array of colors involved.

Certainly, some cremation urns are visible for only a short time before being buried  under ground, and others are used only temporarily until the ashes are scattered.  But today, more and more urns for ashes are being chosen as permanent artistic statements in homes and offices.  People have found that a beautifully crafted urn created by a skilled artisan not only serves its functional purpose but also makes a bold, beautiful statement about the life and memory of the deceased loved one.  As any fine painting or piece of sculpture deserves pride of place when being displayed, today’s cremation urns deserve to be a focal point in any room, not a forgotten piece that ends of in the back of a dark closet.

When a person passes away, more often than not the friends and family he or she leaves behind pull out all stops to give their departed loved one a grand send-off. A lovely casket, a touching memorial service and a beautiful headstone are just a few elements of this grand send off. For those who opt to have their loved ones cremated, it is not unusual for them to choose art urns as the final resting place of their loved one.

Why do they choose art urns? Art urns are more than just beautifully crafted urns. They are meaningful expressions of love for the ones who passed away. They can also be simplified illustrations of the kind of person the departed one was as well as of the kind of life he or she had.

Art Urns as Expressions of Love

When you love someone, you would want him or her to have the best things in life that you can afford to give. When that someone that you love passes on, it is only normal for you to want to give that person the best send-off and resting place that you can afford to give because it is the last time you would be able to express your love for that person.

Art urns are among the best containers that can hold your loved one’s remains. These unique urns are more than just repositories for ashes. They are actual works of art, lovingly created by master craftsmen. When you have your loved one’s remains placed in art urns, you would have the satisfaction that you have done right by your loved one for the last time.

Art Urns as Illustrations of a Life

More than just containers for ashes, art urns can also be illustrations of the kind of life that the departed person led when he or she was still alive. Was he an avid fisherman? Then you can commission a small sculpture of him casting a fishing rod and have this sculpture set atop the urn. Was she a woman who loved gardens? Then you can opt for a ceramic urn with unique floral paints or glazes on them.

The best thing about these art urns is that you can proudly display them anywhere. And when you look at them, you will always be reminded of the kind of person resting inside the urn. You will remember the person that he was and the happy memories you had together.