Bob Ross is best known as the host of the public television series 'The Joy of Painting', in which he creates a beautiful painting right before our eyes in a heart-warming half hour segment. Encouraging his viewers to follow along on their own, Bob instructs even the most novice hobby painters and proves that painting is not just for snobs or elitists. Using his wet-on-wet oil painting technique, he guides his viewers with his soft-spoken through a step-by-step process to create harmonious landscapes similar to his. Ever since I was a child I’ve been mesmerized by Ross’s masterful works, encouraging teaching skills, and quirky 80’s sayings, and still am to this day. I believe Bob Ross’s peaceful demeanor and appreciated for art and life is an example for all mankind to follow.
The program aired 1983-1995, and still appears as reruns in many broadcasted areas. As Bob Ross welcomes you to the show you are taken into a world where only you the viewer, Bob, and the canvas exist. Using his supplies and products he begins by brushing mere hues of color into the canvas, and within minutes you are transported to a calming landscape and state of mind that only Bob can convey. Although his painting instructions seem to result in his students creating works similar to his, I believe its only a launching pad, as Bob encourages you to lay down your “happy little trees” and “lil buggers” where ever you please. He repeatedly stated on the show his belief that everyone had inherent artistic talent and could become an accomplished artist given time, practice, and encouragement, and was often fond of saying, “We don’t make mistakes, we just have happy little accidents.” Bob Ross has built his fortune off his instructional videos, books, and painting sets and supplies, but donated his show to public television. I thoroughly enjoy watching the program even if I’m not painting along.
I find “The Joy of Painting” therapeutic, humorous, and highly entertaining and recommend adults and children of all ages to become regular viewers. So Join Bob Ross on Chicago’s Create channel that airs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. http://www.createtv.com/CreateProgram.nsf/vProgramsByNola/BJOY?OpenDocument&Index=
And Bob Ross products, merchandise, instructional videos and books can be found on: http://www.bobross.com
Hi Ashley, this is an eloquent appreciation of Bob Ross and I especially like the way you deal with him not just as a technician but as a kind of philosopher. Here's a question for you, though: of all the people I've known who have enjoyed his show, almost none of them, in fact maybe actually none at all, have ever picked up a brush. I wonder if you ought to deal with Bob's appeal to non-painters, maybe speculating on the cult following he maintains to this day. In other words, I think this piece would be stronger if it had a bit more purpose to it than just celebrating Bob Ross and his show--maybe focusing, for example, on its appeal for college students? And I wonder, are there Bob Ross haters out there?
ReplyDeleteA couple of quick details: one, typing in a URL is not the same thing as making a link!! Make sure readers can use your posts to get to some more info and ideas. Two, this is of course not ereally a CCC post, so be sure you take on a more "local" topic in the coming days--you'll need it for the final essay.