{"product_id":"paint-watercolor-in-the-footsteps-of-ester-and-john-bauer","title":"Paint watercolor in the footsteps of Ester and John Bauer, July 26, 2026","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eA 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eThroughout 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eDate and time\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e: July 26, 2026, 10:00–16:00, including a one-hour lunch break.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eLocation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eSetting:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e The workshop takes place outdoors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eGroup size:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e Maximum of ten participants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eLevel:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e 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). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eOther equipment:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e Dress for the weather. In case of rain, please bring an umbrella to sit under. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eCatering:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e Tea and dark chocolate are included. Please bring your own lunch; alternatively, you can buy one at Bauergården, Rudenstams Gårdsbutik \u0026amp; Kafé or other nearby restaurants. Bring plenty of water, as it can get hot during the day. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eBooking:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e Advance booking is required. Last date for reservation: July 23, 2026.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eCancellation and refunds:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eIf you have further questions or enquiries, feel free to get in touch with me by email or phone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eEmail address: sarah.billengren@gmail.com\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003ePhone number: +46705497161\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eI hope to see you in the forests of Småland this summer, and until then take care!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eWith warmth,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eSarah\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e* Find your way here:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAddress: Bauergården, Bunn, 563 93 Gränna, Sweden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGPS coordinates: N 57° 56′ 11.1″ O 14° 29′ 31″\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eAbout Ester and John Bauer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eJohn 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 \u003ci\u003eBland tomtar och troll\u003c\/i\u003e (\u003ci\u003eAmong Gnomes and Trolls\u003c\/i\u003e). 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Garamond',serif;\"\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sarah Billengren","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54432104579414,"sku":null,"price":1095.0,"currency_code":"SEK","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/8681\/9158\/files\/26juli2.jpg?v=1783423427","url":"https:\/\/shop.sarahbillengren.com\/products\/paint-watercolor-in-the-footsteps-of-ester-and-john-bauer","provider":"Sarah Billengren","version":"1.0","type":"link"}