Paint watercolor in the footsteps of Ester and John Bauer, August 2, 2026

A heartfelt welcome to this delightful in-person, full-day workshop, where you’ll have the chance to develop your watercolor painting skills in the enchanting surroundings that inspired the artist couple Ester and John Bauer. The course is suitable both to those who are new to the medium and to plein air painting, and to those with previous experience.

Throughout the day, you’ll learn various painting techniques, alongside gain an insight into Ester and John Bauer’s lives and artistic work through their preserved collection of letters. The surroundings of Lake Bunn, where we’ll be painting, hold a special place in Småland’s cultural heritage, as the couple used to partly reside in the area.

Date and time: August 2, 2026, 10:00–16:00, including a one-hour lunch break.

Location: We’ll meet outside Bauergården in Bunn* and walk from there down to a beautiful spot by the lake. The walk takes no more than 10 minutes, and the route is also accessible by car if needed. After lunch, we´ll meet outside Bauergården, and from there walk into the enchanting forest until we find a lovely spot to paint. The afternoon walk is approxiamtely 5-6 kilometers on hilly forest paths.

Setting: The workshop takes place outdoors.

Group size: Maximum of ten participants.

Level: Suitable for beginners as well as those with previous experience. If you are new to watercolor painting, the focus will be on fundamental techniques in plein air painting. If you have previous experience, the focus will shift to creating more realistic paintings.

Materials: All course materials are provided. Please bring a water bottle for mixing paints, as well as something to sit on (a seat pad, blanket or camping chair).

Other equipment: Dress for the weather. Bring a backpack measuring at least 25 x 35 cm (10 x 14 inches) to carry painting equipment. In case of rain, please bring an umbrella to sit under.

Catering: Tea and dark chocolate are included. Please bring your own lunch; alternatively, you can buy one at Bauergården, Rudenstams Gårdsbutik & Kafé or other nearby restaurants. Bring plenty of water, as it can get hot during the day.

Booking: Advance booking is required. Last day for reservation is July 30, 2026.

Cancellation and refunds: Registration is binding and non-refundable. In the event of illness, rebooking to a later available date is possible subject to availability. In this case, please contact me.

If you have further questions or enquiries, feel free to get in touch with me by email or phone.

Email address: sarah.billengren@gmail.com

Phone number: +46705497161

I hope to see you in the forests of Småland this summer, and until then take care!

With warmth,

Sarah

* Find your way here:

Address: Bauergården, Bunn, 563 93 Gränna, Sweden
GPS coordinates: N 57° 56′ 11.1″ O 14° 29′ 31″

About Ester and John Bauer

John Bauer, born in Jönköping in 1882, is one of Sweden’s most beloved artists, primarily known for his enchanting illustrations for the children’s book series Bland tomtar och troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls). Ester Ellqvist, born in Ausås in 1880, was an incredibly skilled portrait painter, but like most women of that era, she had to give up her career after getting married. However, letters and photographs reveal that she continued to paint in private, along with assisting her husband with larger projects. 

The couple met at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, where they both studied between 1900 and 1905, and married the following year. After a year-long study trip to southern Germany and Italy in 1908–1909, the couple found Villa Björkudden by Lake Bunn outside Gränna, where they would spend their summers from then on. They bought the house in 1914, and the following year their son Bengt, known as Putte, was born. The family met an incredibly tragic fate whilst moving to their newly built house in Djursholm, just outside Stockholm in November 1918. During an autumn storm, the steam ship S/S Per Brahe, on which they were travelling sank in Lake Vättern. Everyone on board perished.

At the time of writing, Jönköping County Museum and the Royal Library keep around 1,200 letters of the couple´s letters in their respective collections. The collections consist of letters written primarily between the 1890s and 1918, and include correspondence between Ester and John, as well as to and from parents, siblings, other relatives and friends. As a reader, you’ll get incredibly close to the artist couple through their everyday lives and their innermost dreams, thoughts and feelings, along with how their relationship evolved over time. You also get a unique insight into the era in which the couple lived, with well-known historical events depicted through their eyes. In so many ways, the letters are truly priceless – a treasure.