I thought I'd kick off the year with something I really enjoy.
If you don’t know who Bob Ross is, you may have been living under some pop-culture rock for the last 30 or so years.
Bob Ross was (is) the host of the iconic show “The Joy of Painting” which began in 1983 and ran until a year before his death in 1995. During the show, Ross completes a whole painting while explaining techniques, using about 12 different oil paints, three or four brushes, a palette knife, and a stretched canvas against a black backdrop. Each show runs about 26 minutes, and there are 403 of them.
So what makes Bob Ross so special? After all, he has achieved enduring cult status from a very simple format.
For me (and a whole lot of ASMR enthusiasts) it’s not at all about the painting. I mean - yes, I’ve learned a lot from watching the show, but I’m no artist. However, the sound of the brush or palette knife on canvas combined with Ross’ smooth, calming voice does a hell of a lot to soothe and relax. There’s something about watching a beautiful creation come to life while being lulled with soft humour delivered in a gentle voice.
Not only that, Ross’ positivity shines. A lot of what he says on the show in regards to painting can be applied to everyday life. Buzzfeed compiled a list of 20 Essential Life Lessons From Bob Ross, but my favourite is simply to look for the good in everything and to be gentle with yourself. Afterall, we don’t make mistakes, just happy accidents.
A colleague’s 10 year old daughter painted this gorgeous mountainscape.
It’s never too late to give it a go yourself. In fact, an artist on instagram is recreating all 403 paintings. The Bob Ross Company still exists to help people learn the wet-on-wet technique, and you can probably find a Bob Ross meetup in a place near you!
Remember: you can do anything you're willing to practise.
x Deanna
(Funko Pop available from EBGames)