
The Joy of Painting is an American instructional television show that ran from 1983 to 1994 and was hosted by painter Bob Ross. Reruns of the show began syndication at PBS stations in the United States in 1992, and it has since been aired in other countries such as Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. The show is also available to stream on PBS's website and app, as well as on YouTube and Twitch. In addition, a 24-hour channel dedicated to Bob Ross features reruns of the show on streaming platforms such as The Roku Channel, DirecTV Stream, and Peacock.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Streaming Platforms | The Roku Channel, DirecTV Stream, Peacock, Twitch, PBS, BBC Four, YouTube |
| Reruns | Yes |
| Rerun Syndication Channels | PBS, CBC Television |
| Rerun Start Year | 1992 |
| Rerun Moniker | The Best of The Joy of Painting |
| Rerun Episodes | Bob Ross's favorite paintings from past seasons |
| Rerun Availability | United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Greece, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Japan |
| Rerun Channels | WENH-TV Ch. 11 Durham, WLED-TV Ch. 48 Littleton, WEKW-TV Ch. 18 Keene, W50DP-D Ch. 50 Hanover |
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The Joy of Painting streaming platforms
The Joy of Painting is an American instructional television show that ran from 1983 to 1994. Hosted by painter Bob Ross, most episodes featured Ross teaching techniques for landscape oil painting, with the occasional guest artist demonstrating their own techniques. Reruns of the show began syndication at PBS stations in the United States in 1992, and it has since been broadcast in several other countries.
In terms of streaming platforms, The Joy of Painting is available to stream on PBS and American Public Television under the title The Joy of Painting with Nicholas Hankins: Bob Ross's Unfinished Season. It can also be streamed on the PBS website and the free PBS app, which is available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio. Additionally, a 24-hour channel called The Bob Ross Channel, which features reruns of The Joy of Painting, can be found on streaming platforms such as The Roku Channel, DirecTV Stream, and Peacock.
For those who prefer to stream on YouTube, The Joy of Painting also has an official YouTube channel where viewers can watch and paint along with every episode. Alternatively, Twitch has also streamed the show, with a nine-day marathon in 2015 that attracted 5.6 million viewers, leading to a weekly rebroadcast of all 31 seasons of the show.
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Bob Ross' instructional TV show
Bob Ross's half-hour instructional television show, *The Joy of Painting*, ran from 1983 to 1994. The show was aired and produced by non-commercial, public television stations. The first season aired in early 1983 and was produced by WNVC in Falls Church, Virginia. Starting in the second season in late 1983, the show was produced by WIPB in Muncie, Indiana, until its end in 1994, and later by Blue Ridge Public Television in Roanoke, Virginia.
In most episodes, Ross taught techniques for landscape oil painting, completing a painting in each session. Occasionally, episodes featured a guest artist who would demonstrate a different painting technique. The show followed the same format as its predecessor from 1974 to 1982, *The Magic of Oil Painting*, hosted by Ross's mentor Bill Alexander.
Reruns of the show began syndication at PBS stations in the United States in 1992, under the moniker *The Best of The Joy of Painting*, featuring a collection of Bob Ross's favourite paintings from past seasons. By the early 1990s, nearly 300 episodes of *The Joy of Painting* were on the air in the United States on PBS and in Canada on CBC Television. The show would later begin broadcasting in different places around the world, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Greece, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, Australia, and Japan.
The Joy of Painting is available to stream on PBS's website and the PBS app, which can be downloaded on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio. A 24-hour FAST channel called The Bob Ross Channel, featuring reruns of the show, is also available on multiple streaming platforms, including The Roku Channel, DirecTV Stream, and Peacock.
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Reruns and syndication
"The Joy of Painting" is an American instructional television show that first aired in 1983 and ran until 1994. The show was created and hosted by painter Bob Ross, with most episodes featuring Ross teaching techniques for landscape oil painting and completing a painting in each session. The show also occasionally featured guest artists who would demonstrate different painting techniques.
Reruns of "The Joy of Painting" began syndication at PBS stations in the United States in 1992 under the moniker "The Best of The Joy of Painting." This syndicated version featured a collection of Bob Ross's favorite paintings from past seasons. By the early 1990s, nearly 300 episodes of the show were airing in the United States on PBS and in Canada on CBC Television.
In addition to PBS, "The Joy of Painting" reruns have also been available on various streaming platforms. In 2015, Twitch streamed every episode of the show over a nine-day period, attracting 5.6 million viewers. Due to its popularity, Twitch created a weekly rebroadcast of all 31 seasons of the show, airing every Monday starting in November 2015, with a marathon of episodes each October 29.
In 2020, the show returned to television on BBC Four as part of their Culture Quarantine Programming. Additionally, a 24-hour channel called The Bob Ross Channel, featuring reruns of "The Joy of Painting," is available on streaming platforms such as The Roku Channel, DirecTV Stream, and Peacock.
The show has also been syndicated internationally, airing in various countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Greece, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, Australia, and Japan.
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Guest appearances on the show
"The Joy of Painting" is an American half-hour instructional television show that was created and hosted by painter Bob Ross. It ran from 11 January 1983 to 17 May 1994, with Ross teaching techniques for landscape oil painting and completing a painting in each session.
The show featured many guest appearances from other painters, who painted in Ross's stead. These included Dana Jester, Ross's son Steve, John Thamm, Audrey Golden, Joyce Ortner, Ben Stahl, Dorothy Dent, his business partner Annette Kowalski (who specialised in floral painting), and Diane Andre.
In addition to these guest painters, Ross also made several notable television appearances outside of his own show. In 1989, he appeared on The Joan Rivers Show, and in 1992 he was on a live show with hosts Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford. In 1994, Ross appeared on the Phil Donahue Show, taking five audience members on stage to paint, and he also did a self-parody segment on Bill Nye the Science Guy, entitled "The Artistic Eye with Bob Ross". In 1995, Ross made his final public television appearance as a guest on the pilot episode of the children's series "The Adventures of Elmer and Friends".
The show has since been re-aired and streamed on various platforms, including PBS stations in the United States, CBC Television in Canada, and streaming platforms such as The Roku Channel, DirecTV Stream, and Peacock.
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Bob Ross' legacy
Bob Ross, the painter with a calm demeanour and iconic hair, became a beloved figure in the world of art and television. His soothing voice and gentle teaching style made him a guru to countless viewers, and his show, "The Joy of Painting", remains a cultural phenomenon.
Ross's legacy is that of a pioneer who democratised art. Before him, painting was often seen as a skill reserved for a talented few. However, his approach showed that anyone could pick up a brush and create art. By breaking down the steps and offering encouragement, he made landscape painting accessible to millions. This unique style of teaching has left an indelible mark on the world, inspiring new generations of artists and enthusiasts.
Ross's influence extended beyond his viewers, as many professional artists today cite him as an inspiration for their work. His show, which featured techniques for landscape oil painting, ran for 11 years and produced over 400 episodes, reaching millions of homes. His paintings are instantly recognisable for their majestic mountains, tranquil lakes, and lush forests, brought to life with vibrant colours and masterful brushwork.
Beyond the television show, Ross built an empire that included art supplies, instructional books, and workshops. His brand became synonymous with landscape painting, and his influence seeped into various aspects of the art world. The Bob Ross Company, founded by Ross and his business partners, continues to promote his teachings and preserve his legacy. Ross has also become a pop culture icon, with his image—the signature perm and gentle smile—instantly recognisable.
However, Ross's legacy is not without its complexities. After his death, there was a bitter dispute between his son, friends, and business partners, with legal wrangling, accusations of bad behaviour, and resentment between the surviving parties. A Netflix documentary, "Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed", explores the fraught nature of his legacy, including the question of who should control it.
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Frequently asked questions
The Joy of Painting is available to stream on PBS stations in the United States, and on CBC Television in Canada. It can also be streamed on the PBS app, which is available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Yes, the show is also available on a 24-hour FAST channel called The Bob Ross Channel, which is available on streaming platforms such as The Roku Channel, DirecTV Stream, and Peacock.
The Joy of Painting is an American instructional television show created and hosted by painter Bob Ross. In most episodes, Ross teaches techniques for landscape oil painting, completing a painting in each session.
The Joy of Painting aired from January 11, 1983, to May 17, 1994.
Painter Bob Ross created and hosted The Joy of Painting.











































