British Museum and more…
When Lyle and I traveled to Spain last year, we went with a curious mindset, grateful for our good fortune in being invited to take part in painting classes held in such a bucolic setting. After spending some time in the province of Andalucía, we felt enlivened by the visual feast of colours, aromas, and the stunning views of both ocean and mountains. What I didn’t expect was to find some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever come across. What a coveted, hidden spot our gallery-owner friend had invited us to.
Lyle has always had an adventurous spirit. As a kid, he was torn between becoming an astronaut or a cowboy—those being the only two appealing options back in the days just before, as he jokingly puts it, the dinosaurs roamed. That’s how he explains that period to younger generations. These days, he’s drawn to exploring the ways artists and civilizations have expressed themselves throughout history. In his first year of formal art education, he traded Anthropology classes for sculpting, a shift that’s still telling today.
This year—the year of the snake in the Chinese zodiac—Lyle and I plan to shed the comfort of our steady routine: running our household and creating in our studio. We’re exchanging that lifestyle for one that includes a trip to London. While there, our first mission is to spend the day at the British Museum. We’ve visited a few times before, and it remains one of those “must-return” places for us.
For both of us, the Egyptian wing is endlessly fascinating. That some of the artifacts are nearly untraceable to a specific era, and yet appear so modern, is a juxtaposition we can never get enough of. Lyle is always struck by the precision of the motifs carved into the statues and objects—the level of craftsmanship often far exceeds what we see in today’s art forms. From all our travels and the art we’ve encountered, it feels as though truly masterful techniques are becoming increasingly rare.
For an artist, having the privilege to visit institutions that house such artifacts is an experience that leaves a lasting imprint. Even when the details fade, the impact stays. Lyle says that each time he sees these ancient masterworks up close, his own benchmark for excellence is raised.
We’ll also be spending a few days in Rome. Having previously been to Florence—visiting the Uffizi and other galleries—the richness of those oil paintings still lingers vividly in my memory. We chose Rome because it’s home to the largest fine art collection in the world. We want to see the works of the masters and take in the elegant, almost monastic beauty of the culture. Along the way, we’ll be posting some of Lyle’s favourite compositions and sites on social media.
Our journey will culminate with sailing along the Mediterranean coastline, stopping at ports in France, Italy, and Spain. What I enjoy most about being at sea is the quietude—and the absence of light pollution while sailing at night. Given the southern weather pattern, there should be little or no cloud cover.
I imagine clear night skies, with millions of stars lighting our way—just like in Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
From our past experiences in Europe, the iconic paintings of the masters always remind us: art imitates life, or life imitates art—depending on how you see it. For Lyle and me, art is always in the foreground.