Bob Ross is still a hero for many people. The painter that could create a landscape in just half an hour. He said that his paintings would never hang in a museum. Next year they will.
‘The Joy of Painting’ was a tv series about how to paint landscapes, also called ‘fast food painting’. Mostly inspired by the landscapes of Alaska where Bob Ross lived.
Bob Ross became a big success
After he quit his job as a medical administrator he started giving painting lessons, that turned out into a television series from 1982 until 1993. In America and abroad it became a big success. And still is.
He used to talk about ‘happy little trees’ and ‘just happy little accidents (if you made a mistake in painting). He had a quirky personality and that also tributes to his success. Millions of people watched him paint and talking and explaining how to do so. It made him immense popular. Even under non-painters.
He had a smooth voice that helped people relax. They didn’t even needed a glass of wine from the wine cooler (translated to Dutch: wijnbewaarkast) to have a good night’s sleep. It didn’t bother him. He painted on and on.
Fast Food paintings from Bob Ross
The paintings he created between 1983 and 1994 will be shown in an exhibition now. The fast food paintings are mostly landscapes.
The Museum of Modern Realism in Gorssel in The Netherlands shows his paintings at the end of 2020. In the meantime, we can take a look at tv-moments of Bob Ross, when he paints waterfalls, lakes, trees, and mountains.
Bob Ross marketing machine
The American landscape painter was born in 1942 in Daytona Beach. He died in 1995. It never occurred to him to sell the paintings. Now there is a lively marketing machine that sells Bob Ross t-shirts, books, dvd’s, mugs, women’s leggings, and even a dress. But also skis and slipper socks. But you still cannot buy a painting.
But, you still can take painting-lessons, given by Bob Ross Teachers, holding local workshops every day. Everywhere in America. But also in other countries, like The Netherlands for example. Or nearby your vacation home in Southern Spain (translated to Dutch: vakantiehuis Zuid Spanje). You just put your paint and brushes into your backpack (translated to Dutch: rugzak) and find a course somewhere in the neighborhood. After one class, you will have your own Bob Ross painting. Experts say: ‘Bob is a legend, and became a big factor in people’s lives’.