The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross (and me)
I grew up watching Bob Ross bring serene landscapes to life on “The Joy of Painting”. In fact, my mom likes to say that I am an artist because she watched episodes while pregnant with me. I have always been transfixed by his ability to birth a masterpiece in just 30 minutes. His gentle assurance that we are all capable of tapping into that same artistic potential was more than a platitude, he was entirely sincere. Watching an episode of “The Joy of Painting” is similar to a cooking show – you can just watch and enjoy, but if you paint along following his steps, you’ll end up with something similar to what he made. Of course it takes practice to refine your skills, and that starts with investing your time in practice, and money in supplies. Here is how I have made this practice more accessible to myself, and dozens of students.
“We don’t make mistakes, we have happy accidents.”
Bob Ross used oil paint for his paintings, but I’ve found it easier to work with acrylic paint. There are pros and cons to this technique.
Pros of using acrylic paint:
More affordable than oil paint
Brushes can be cleaned with water instead of harsh solvents
Dries quickly (so you can create layers and have less wait time to complete)
Cons of using acrylic paint:
Not as pigmented as oil paint
Dries quickly (less time to work with the paint while it’s still wet, more likely to waste paint when it dries up)
The biggest obstacle we face when painting with acrylic is it drying out. My technique for getting around this is by using acrylic extender. This helps to keep the acrylic wet for longer, so you can move color around right on the canvas like Bob did.
Steps:
Assemble your supplies – refer to my supply list, gather everything, and set up your workspace
Choose an episode on YouTube to follow along with (The Grandeur of Summer is one of my favorites)
Lay down your liquid white base on the canvas (a mixture of fluid acrylic extender and white paint, applied in an even layer with a foam brush)
Follow along with Bob. Take your time and pause as often as you need to. Remember, the goal is not to replicate his work exactly – this is your painting, and it is unique to you! Take creative liberties. This is merely a guide on technique.
✨ Tip: be liberal with your use of paint. A little goes a long way, and you can really build depth in thin layers.
Sign your work and revel in the fact that you are indeed an artist!
If you’re interested in joining me in person for a “Bob Ross and Beer” event, I’ll be leading a class on Tuesday, November 12th at Goldspot Brewing. Reserve your spot here.
If you have joined me before and want to continue working in this technique on your own, or if you are simply ready to jump right in, here is a list of supplies you’ll need to make your own Bob Ross inspired landscape masterpiece. Happy painting!
