Bob Ross Is Dead, But He Still Paints Happy Little Clouds

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Friday, April 2, 2004 | CHRISTOPHER RHOADS

[presidio9]

The only art in G

[gswilder]

I had never painted until about 10 years ago. Had just started watching Bob when he died. Bought me some supplies, and started painting. It was amazing what you could do using his techniques. I probably painted about 30 paintings, and gave to family and friends. Most really didn't believe I painted them. Haven't done it in a few years. Need to back to it. He really is fun to watch.

[CollegeRepublican]

After Bob Ross died at the age of 52, the majority of his original oil paintings were donated to charity or PBS stations.

[bonfire]

Wow! I love your painting.

[kenth]

LOL... and you had to wonder, just what kind of rodent wasteland his property had to be to generate a veritable warzone of squirrel victims.

[grannie9]

Sounds just like me.. My friends have more paintings of Bob's than I do. I did get a chance to see him for a couple years before he died tho, and what a blow it was to me when I heard that he did die. It was like losing a dear friend..

I have all his books, brushes, and tapes I made and hope to slap one out like him again one day. It's just there waiting for me.. lol.

I loved the wet paint style and took it to other painting with smaller brushes eventually. Now I am into digital photos, but would love to get my hands back into the paint again someday. Maybe this summer.. ;)

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks! Yours is pretty, grannie, on the level of real art compared to mine!

I also loved the Norwegian guy with the thick accent.... Anderson?

I never see these shows on the schedule any more!

[bonfire]

Beautiful! I wish I could paint! My mom and sister are both talented painters. I didn't get that gene.

[grannie9]

I followed him too, and who was the painter with his daughter that was with him all the time. They both painted.. It was this painters daughter that got me into painting the florals..

I can't get to his books because they are at home, but he was great too. He used the wet style like Bob did..

I love your painting HOTD. Love the idea of it and it's very well done. There were a couple water-colorists that were fun too. I don't know why I never seem to see those painting shows on PBS up my way anymore.. They would inspire me again if I could just see them..

Water color is fun, but oils are the best to relax with.. I love sqooshing the paints.. ;)

[martin_fierro]

OTOH, I personally cannot STAND Donna Dewberry.

The woman has ONE STROKE that she flays over and Over and OVER.

Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard ("Ehhh? Ehhh?") and she acts like she's God's Gift to the art world.

IMHO, she's the anti-Bob.

[bonfire]

Ya'll ought to have a FReeper art thread. Everyone could post their artwork.

[grannie9]

The best thing about painting with oils is.. you don't have to be good at drawing. I can't draw well at all, but the rest of my family were quite good at it.

You'd be surprised what you can do with oil paints. They are really fun and so forgiving.. You don't like it, scrape it off and start over..

[Saturnalia]

I think the "Bob Ross coma state" is a transition from beta
to alpha brainwaves, as in the feeling you have after a
good bit of excercise, light-headedness, etc. It is strangely relaxing...

[grannie9]

LOL.. it was much more calming to watch him and not try to stay up with painting with him. That's why I would tape his shows and paint the pics later.. Then I could stop and start at my leisure.

His voice and manner were music for the soul for sure tho..

[HairOfTheDog]

An art thread would be good, and a lot of fun to see...

I have to go out today, have a job interview so I won't be here much longer. If it does get posted, ping me!....

[MEGoody]

Bob Ross was terrific. I still watch him from time to time.

[The Bat Lady]

that is a VERY nice painting!!! I would wonder how you did the rain but I watched Bob too.

My neighbor got me started and I used to clean house on Sat. and at 4pm snooze on the couch Watching the happy trees appear.

[The Bat Lady]

Beautiful! I wish I could paint! I always wished that I could paint a picture in my lifetime. My neighbor got me watching Bob Ross and after a year I figured that I could do it too!!!! So I got supplies for Christmas one year, taped a few shows and set up to paint a pic. I did one with my son and one with a friend. WE both enjoyed those times. After about 8 I ended up with one that i liked. I liked the sky, the mountains the trees and the water. I framed it and signed it and hung it in an office that i worked and my co-workers were always amazed that I had painted it!!!! It now hangs where I can see it from my bed and i like the scene. It amazes me that I PAINTED THAT. YOU can do it too!!!! Wish he had taught me to paint bats LOL

[bonfire]

When my kids are all grown and gone, I intend on at least TRYING to paint!

[Hildy]

That yours? I'm no art person, but I really like it! Have any to sell? :)

[redheadtoo]

Silly me, I studied for years to get a BA in Fine Arts from an expensive private university when all I needed to do was watch television.