Lars Jonsson is widely regarded as one of the greatest bird artists of all time—no other painter of his generation captures the true look and feel of birds in the wild so beautifully. This magnificently illustrated volume collects Jonsson’s most recent paintings and drawings, many published here for the first time, offering a fascinating retrospective of the artist’s work from the turn of the new century to today. Lars Jonsson’s Birds features 150 full-color, museum-quality reproductions of works that Jonsson painted in the field and that reflect his favorite theme of birds in a wide landscape, such as gulls, waders, ducks, and raptors.
This sumptuous book includes essays by the acclaimed sculptor Kent Ullberg and museum curator Adam Harris, as well as commentaries by Jonsson and pages from his sketchbooks that provide rare insights into Jonsson’s incomparable artistry.
- Offers an invaluable retrospective of the artist’s most recent work
- Features 150 full-color bird paintings
- Includes commentaries by Jonsson, pages from his sketchbooks, and more
- Provides rare insights into Jonsson’s art and methods
Awards and Recognition
- Winner of the 2009 National Outdoor Book Award in Design and Artistic Merit
Lars Jonsson is an internationally renowned artist and ornithologist. He is the author of Birds and Light and Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East (both Princeton), as well as Bird Island. He lives and paints on southern Gotland in Sweden
"It's no exaggeration to call [Jonsson] one of the world's greatest living bird artists. This book is a showcase of more than 150 works, most of which were painted from 2002 to 2008. And it's a reflection on the artist himself. Essays by a museum curator, an acclaimed sculptor, and a Swedish journalist capture Jonsson's genius. And notes from his sketchbooks offer insights into how he creates his art."—Matt Mendenhall, Birder's World
"When I originally picked up this book thought it to be another pretty picture book on birds. What I found was a remarkable story about a skilled bird artist, told in prose and examples of his various works. It was a delightful surprise and an enjoyable read."—Robert Hoopes, Wildlife Activist
"Many excellent wildlife artists work today. Lars Jonsson is, in my opinion, the greatest. He seems like a heir of the renowned bird artists John J. Audubon and Louis Agassiz Fuertes."—Dan Tallman, South Dakota Bird Notes
"Jonsson who illustrated a highly successful field guide shows his diverse artistry in this impressive work. This is a coffee table book depicting the artist's renditions of numerous birds. The plates show a wide variety of the various techniques he used in showing the birds in their natural surroundings."—Indiana Audubon Quarterly
"Everything that Lars applies to paper or canvas is accurate. The work may be loose or precise, but it always reflects an intimate knowledge of the subject and its situation. By presenting several points of view, the well-written text achieves a balance so that readers may enjoy Lars's art on multiple levels. As a bird artist, I particularly appreciate the sound defense of the painting of birds as art."—John Sill, wildlife artist
