Lars x 2 - Watercolours by Jonsson & Lerin

Stockholms Auktionsverk is proud to present works by two of Sweden’s foremost contemporary watercolorists, Lars Jonsson and Lars Lerin.
With nature as their focus, both artists take us to the shores of Gotland and the forests of Värmland. Lars Jonsson’s precise and vivid paintings depict birdlife by lakes, seas, and woods, while Lars Lerin’s atmosphere-laden watercolors capture nature’s shifts with profound emotional intensity. In a way that few other artists manage, both reach an exceptionally broad audience — so much so that each now has a museum dedicated to their work.
The pieces presented come from two separate private collections, with the works by Lars Lerin forming the third and final part of Kenneth Wahlström’s extensive collection.
Lars Jonsson was born in 1952 and grew up in the Stockholm suburb of Farsta. Surrounded by nature, he developed an early fascination with animals and the outdoors. Drawing soon became a major passion, and in his early twenties, as a self-taught artist, he was entrusted with his first major commission: to create a European field guide.
His passion for birds has taken him around the world, yet it is on southern Gotland where he has his base. From the beaches near his home, he works with a spotting scope, brushes, and watercolor paints. Like many plein air painters before him, he paints on site. Jonsson has honed his technical skill to the highest degree, capturing light, reflections, the movement of water, and the changing colors of birds’ plumage with striking precision.
Lars Lerin was born in 1954 in Munkfors, Värmland. Encouraged by his grandmother, he began drawing and painting at an early age. After finishing school, he pursued artistic training at the Gerlesborg School in Bohuslän and later continued at the Valand Academy of Fine Arts in Gothenburg.
In the early stages of his career, Lerin worked in oil, portraying people and places around him, drawing inspiration from artists such as Sven X:et Erixson, Eric Hallström, and Bror Hjorth. He eventually turned to etching, animal drawings, and developed his watercolor practice. In the late 1980s, he moved to Lofoten, where he began to paint the motifs that we so strongly associate with his artistry today.
One of Lars Lerin’s most distinctive artistic qualities is his ability to depict landscapes in a way that extends far beyond the purely visual. Through subtle use of color, light, and shadow, he creates paintings and watercolors that convey a powerful sense of place and presence.
We warmly welcome you to explore this beautiful exhibition featuring over 40 works by both artists.