Andy Buys a Museum Book—It’s THAT Good!

Angeline Marie Martinez

Sketching at Bogota's Gold Museum was a dream come true - a dream I didn't know I had! 

Sketches of faces and views from the hotel.

Sketches while walking around Bogota, near the National Museum.

Discovering Bogota: From Jet Lag to Gold Museum Inspiration

Why We Chose Bogota Instead of Flying Home
From Spain, we flew into Bogota, Colombia. The flight options were less than ideal, and knowing how jet-lagged Andy and I would feel, we decided to spend a couple of nights in Bogota instead of rushing home after a short stay in a San Jose, Costa Rica hotel. We thought this would give us a better chance to recover from the jet lag.

A Surprising Twist at the National Museum
We had planned to visit two museums while in Bogota: the National Museum and the Gold Museum. Excited to start our day, we headed to the National Museum first—only to find out it was closed due to a water outage! We weren’t too disappointed, though, as we spent some time exploring a nearby park before heading to our next stop.

Exploring the Gold Museum: A Must-See in Bogota
WOW, what a museum! If you ever visit Bogota, the Gold Museum is a must-see. It’s packed with stunning exhibits that tell the story of Colombia’s rich history. Andy, who rarely buys museum books, even grabbed the coffee table book from the gift shop! That says it all.
​
How We Spent the Day Immersed in Gold
Andy and I spent hours exploring the Gold Museum. Between reading the exhibit cards, admiring the intricate displays, and taking short breaks, the day flew by. I couldn’t resist sketching almost everything I saw. The museum is now one of my all-time favorites.

Look at all the abstract goofy happy silly characters! Who'd thunk abstract art existed before recorded history!?!? In SOUTH AMERICA, no less!

Artistic Inspiration from Ancient Gold Designs
Abstract art existed long before we recorded history! The gold jewelry and artifacts on display featured designs of bats, toucans, lizards, jaguars, birds, dragonflies—you name it, it was sculpted in gold! The negative space, lines, and intricate details of these designs captivated me. I purchased my own smaller book for reference in my studio and plan to incorporate many of these designs into my future artwork.

Dining and Rest After a Day of Exploration
After leaving the Gold Museum, we enjoyed a meal at a highly recommended restaurant. By 6 PM both nights in Bogota, we were fast asleep, exhausted from our travels and the full day of inspiration!

One More Set of Sketches to Share
I filled TWO sketchbooks while on this trip: the one I’ve shared so far and a “cabin/hotel” sketchbook. I never thought I’d fill both, but I did! Overall, the entire trip will influence me for years to come! 

If you'd love to see what was in my sketchbook kit, please check out my free ebook about my drawing kit! Click on these sentences to get your supply lists in time for holiday shopping! Maybe you'll find some super deals on some of the resources I share! 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone in USA! It's in two days from the publishing of this blog post. ​

More Bogota Gold Museum sketches...