Imagine you're lounging underneath a magnificent fir tree by a babbling brook that no one has seen but you, with turquoise waters and soft grass hugging the banks. Or imagine that you're gliding down a winding river, new sights to see at every turn, with the best one unfolding before you- a range of towering snow-capped mountains surrounded by a forest of bold green evergreens. How would you feel if you were gazing upon one of nature's greatest phenomenons, the Northern Lights? All these scenes were imagined and painted by the great American painter, instructor and television host, Bob Ross.
October 29, 1942 brought new life to the world. Bob Ross was born in Daytona Beach, Florida to Jack and Ollie Ross. His father, Jack, was a carpenter and Bob would often help him with his carpentry work. Something even the most devote Ross fans and viewers overlook is his loss of a left index finger. It was collateral damage during a carpentry job, but since his left hand always carries the palette, not the paintbrush, the injury has gone largely unnoticed. Bob Ross's love and respect of nature, the main theme in his extensive artworks, stemmed from his mother, who taught him about wildlife at a young age. Ross was raised in Orlando, Florida and reportedly has a half-brother named Jim, whom he mentions on his show, The Joy of Painting. Bob went on to marry his first wife, Lynda Brown, with whom he had two children named Bob and Steven. Bob followed in Bob Ross Sr.'s footsteps and began painting at a young age.
When he turned eighteen, Bob Ross enlisted in the United States Air Force as a medical records technician. He served for twenty years until he retired in 1981, the same year he divorced Lynda Brown. His experience in the Air Force served as a major influence in his artwork later in life. Ross was last stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. It was there that he became enchanted with the wintry scenes that reoccur in his art. He briefly pursued his artistic passion during work and lunch breaks, until he realized that he could make more money doing what he loved, then by continuing to serve. Once he made his decision and retired, Bob vowed he would never yell again.
Bob Ross's relaxed personality and iconic permed hairstyle made a debut to the world on his TV show, The Joy of Painting. After watching The Magic of Oil Painting and studying with the artist behind it, Bill Alexander, Ross decided to branch out on his own. His own show has 403 episodes and 33 seasons, which began broadcasting on January 11, 1983. Filming stopped on May 17, 1994, but you can still find The Joy of Painting all over modern sites like YouTube and Amazon. Each episode features Ross painting a scene on canvas using his own techniques. All the videos are under 30 minutes and easy to follow. Without fail, each composition he made was breathtaking. To ensure his success, he usually painted the scene twice before he did follow-along version. The first attempt would help guide him on certain placement of entities and help develop the mood of the creation, while the second would be starting from scratch, checking his work and adding the finishing touches.
Coupled with his TV program, www.bobross.com has made Ross a millionaire. On this still-active site you can purchase any of the variety of paints and brushes that Ross recommends and himself uses on camera. It has long been said that his vast wealth was drawn from these two sources alone. Once he began filming The Joy of Painting, he never sold a single artwork, instead donating them to PBS stations (the network that shot his show).
Chronicled by many, Bob Ross's time on Earth was nothing short of awe-inspiring. But not even his great works could save him from the inevitable. Claimed by lymphoma at the age of fifty-six, he passed away on July 4th, 1995. The Joy of Painting was canceled only a year before his death, in order to help his attempt at recovery. True to core of his brand and the love of his life, art, Ross painted an astounding 30,000 paintings in his lifetime and left them with us today.
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