Lena Rivera
Bob Ross was an American painter and art instructor, best known for his television show 'The Joy of Painting', which aired from 1983 to 1994. Ross became famous for his distinctive appearance and his fast and easy wet-on-wet painting technique, which allowed him to complete paintings in less than 30 minutes. Ross was also known for his gentle and encouraging demeanour, and his light humour, which endeared him to millions of viewers.
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What You'll Learn
Bob Ross's life and career
Robert Norman Ross, popularly known as Bob Ross, was born on October 29, 1942, in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. His father, Jack, was a carpenter, and his mother, Ollie, was a waitress. Ross was raised in Orlando, Florida, and worked with his father as a carpenter during his youth. Unfortunately, he suffered an accident and lost part of his left index finger, which made him decide that carpentry wasn't for him.
In 1960, Ross joined the Air Force, where he was first stationed in Florida and later transferred to an airbase in Alaska. During his service, he took his first painting lesson at a U.S.O. Club in Anchorage. He also worked as a bartender and sold his landscape paintings to tourists. Ross was intrigued by the wet-on-wet painting technique, also known as alla prima, which he learned from television painting instructor Bill or William Alexander. This technique involved applying oil paint on top of still-wet oil paint, allowing for quicker composition. Ross' interest in painting and his unique technique led him to pursue private painting lessons with Alexander after retiring from the military in 1981.
In 1983, Ross launched the PBS television series "The Joy of Painting," where he taught his distinctive painting style to millions of viewers. His gentle demeanor, light humour, and distinctive look, including his signature perm, endeared him to fans. Ross' folksy references to happy little trees and clouds further added to his popularity. The show ran for 11 years and established Ross as a household name.
Beyond his artistic prowess, Ross was also a successful entrepreneur. He established Bob Ross Inc., a thriving company that sold instructional books, videos, art supplies, and offered painting workshops. Ross' influence extended beyond his lifetime, with a resurgence of interest in the 21st century through streaming platforms like YouTube. Today, he continues to inspire and attract fans of all ages, solidifying his legacy as one of America's most beloved painters.
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The Joy of Painting
Robert Norman Ross, popularly known as Bob Ross, was an American painter and art instructor. He was born on October 29, 1942, in Daytona Beach, Florida, and raised in Orlando, Florida. Ross created and hosted the famous television show, 'The Joy of Painting'.
Ross dropped out of high school after completing the ninth grade. He then worked as a carpenter with his father and lost part of his left index finger in an accident. This, however, did not affect his ability to hold a palette while painting. Ross enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1961 and served as a medical records technician. It was during his time in the Air Force that he discovered his passion for painting. He learned the wet-on-wet (alla prima) oil painting technique from television painting instructor Bill Alexander. This technique involved applying oil paint on top of still-wet oil paint, eliminating the wait time between layers. Ross mastered this technique and began painting and selling Alaskan landscapes.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1981, Ross returned to Florida and studied painting with Alexander, joining his "Alexander Magic Art Supplies Company" as a travelling salesman and tutor. With the encouragement of Annette Kowalski, Ross ventured out on his own and went on to create 'The Joy of Painting'. The show aired from 1983 to 1994 on PBS in the United States and CBC in Canada. Ross's gentle demeanor, light humour, and distinctive look endeared him to millions of viewers worldwide. He painted more than 1000 landscapes for the show, creating three versions of almost every painting featured. The first version was painted before the show as a reference, the second was painted during the taping, and the third was a more detailed version created for his instructional books.
Ross's son, Steve, was also a talented painter and occasionally appeared on 'The Joy of Painting'. Ross passed away on July 4, 1995, at the age of 52, leaving behind a legacy of art and a new generation of artists inspired by his work.
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Wet-on-wet technique
Bob Ross was an American painter, art instructor, and television personality. He created and hosted the popular television show, 'The Joy of Painting', which aired from 1983 to 1994. Ross became a household name as the painting teacher to the masses.
Ross used a wet-on-wet oil painting technique, also known as 'alla prima' (Italian for 'first attempt'), in which layers of wet paint are applied to previously administered layers of wet paint. This technique, which Ross learned from his mentor William "Bill" Alexander, allowed him to create complete paintings within thirty minutes. The wet-on-wet technique is mostly used in oil painting and requires a fast way of working as the painting must be finished before the first layers have dried.
The wet-on-wet technique can also be used in watercolour painting. This involves wetting the paper first and then adding paint to the wet area. The paint will spread and move on its own, creating unique and beautiful effects. You can also add different colours and allow them to mix on the paper. It is important to note that the wet-on-wet technique requires good quality watercolour paper to prevent buckling.
The wet-on-wet technique has been used by several major painters, including Impressionists such as Claude Monet, post-Impressionists such as Vincent van Gogh, and Abstract Expressionists such as Willem de Kooning.
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Bob Ross Inc
The business has come under scrutiny in recent years following the release of the 2021 Netflix documentary Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal and Greed, which depicted the company as exploitative and heartless towards Ross's survivors, particularly his son, Steve Ross. The documentary also raised questions about the company's operations, with people wanting to know if they are profiting from the sales of Bob Ross-certified instructors' classes and art supplies.
In response to the documentary, Joan Kowalski, who took over the business from her parents in 2012, has stated that there is a lot more information that was not included in the documentary that would help people better understand the situation. She has also said that the idea that the business was snatched away from Steve Ross is not true.
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Bob Ross's legacy
Robert Norman Ross, better known as Bob Ross, was an American painter, art instructor, and television personality. Ross was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, on October 29, 1942, and passed away on July 4, 1995. During his life, he created and hosted the popular television program "The Joy of Painting", which aired from 1983 to 1994. Through his show, Ross taught his unique "wet-on-wet" painting technique to millions of viewers, creating detailed landscapes in 30 minutes or less.
Ross's legacy lies in his enduring popularity and influence even decades after his death. His show "The Joy of Painting" remains culturally relevant and has a huge, worldwide fan base, with episodes still being viewed by millions of people today. Ross has become a cultural icon, with significance in the art world, public broadcasting history, and society in general. He is known for his calming presence, positive outlook, and encouragement of others, with his philosophy of "we don't make mistakes, just happy accidents" resonating with many.
Ross's influence extends beyond the art world, with his distinctive look, calm demeanour, and gentle voice making him an unlikely icon of the wellness movement. He has been dubbed the King of ASMR by some fans, who find his soft-spoken manner and the gentle sounds of his painting process deeply relaxing. This has led to a resurgence of interest in Ross and his work in the 21st century, with his show finding new audiences on streaming platforms such as YouTube and Twitch.
In addition to his cultural impact, Ross also left a significant financial legacy. He established a successful company, Bob Ross Inc., which sells instructional books, videos, art supplies, and workshops taught by teachers trained in his methods. This business continues to be profitable, with sales of merchandise and painting products bearing his name and likeness generating substantial revenue.
Ross's artistic legacy is also notable, with his paintings and memorabilia highly sought after by fans. While his paintings are scarce on the art market, they frequently sell for prices exceeding $10,000. In 2020, the Smithsonian acquired two of Ross's paintings, as well as his easel, palette, brushes, and other objects related to "The Joy of Painting", recognising the cultural significance of his work.
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Frequently asked questions
Bob Ross was an American painter, art instructor, and television personality. He was born in 1942 and died in 1995.
Bob Ross is famous for his painting and his instructional television program, "The Joy of Painting", which aired from 1983 to 1994. He also became known for his distinctive appearance and his soothing, intimate speaking voice.
Bob Ross used a "wet-on-wet" oil painting technique, also known as alla prima, which involved applying oil paint over still-wet paint rather than waiting for each layer to dry. This allowed him to complete paintings in less than an hour.
Yes, Bob Ross had two children. His son, Steve Ross, is also a painter and appeared on "The Joy of Painting" with his father. Bob also had another son, Steve's half-brother, Jimmie.
Bob Ross painted more than 1,000 landscapes for his television show, but many of them are hard to find. Bob Ross Inc. estimates that they have 1,165 paintings stored on-site, and the Smithsonian has acquired several of his paintings and related objects for their American History Museum.
