Yes you’ve read correctly. Bob Ross. What’s an art blog without some Bob Ross?
Who is Bob Ross?
Unless you live under a rock you’ve probably heard of Bob Ross. If you don’t know, here’s some background:
He was an American painter, art instructor, and he also had his own show. On this show he would teach everyday people how to paint.
Painting Style
Ross is known for his landscapes. He used a wet-on-wet style, meaning he wouldn’t let the paint dry before adding another layer of paint. This makes a smooth, blended, seamless effect to a painting. This technique can be very difficult as it is easier to end up with a muddy finish if blended too much or smudged.
What I love so much about his painting style is how for the first 20 minutes of the painting, it looks like blobs of paint. It doesn’t look like much but once he goes in to add subtle details it turns into a masterpiece.
He will typically use a larger brush or a mixing knife with oil paints to paint.
Bob Ross and Nature
Bob Ross shows a true appreciation of nature in his work, which I appreciate. He paints a lot of mountains and trees in his art. His sunsets are always beautiful.
Art Philosophy
Bob Ross is all about encouraging everyone to paint. You can learn anything if you just practice. As an art gal, I can attest to this mantra. I’ve seen people start drawing for the first time ever during their sophomore year of high school. They practiced a ton and now one of them is studying art at UCLA. Practice makes perfect.
He also kept a positive attitude throughout painting. It is quite endearing. He spoke about his art as if it were living inside the canvas, as if the subject matter had feelings. What a great way to treat your creations.
Bob Ross painted until his death in 1995. 20 years later and people are still watching his painting videos. He is admired by many for his positivity, sensitivity, and creativity.
Media Credit:
Bob Ross’s videos can be found on:
Arteresting 