You may well not be aware of Bob Ross, but I am a big fan (hence the present).  Bob Ross was a 1980s art instructor and the host of The Joy of Painting on PBS in America.  The concept was simple and quiet; Bob standing at an easel, creating a landscape painting and ‘instructing’ viewers in his technique as he went.  For me (and many others), however, the art is secondary.  He became equally well-known for his mellow manner, giant perm and quirky sayings about art and life.  It is hard to describe the effect of watching an episode of The Joy of Painting to the uninitiated; it is strangely relaxing and comforting, but also fun.  Indeed, scientists have identified “the Bob Ross effect”, and say he was an unwitting pioneer of the brain-tingling sensation known as “ASMR” (or Auto Sensory Meridian Response) which induces a sense of euphoric relaxation.  I certainly can testify to that!  Moreover, the playful wisdom of his maxims, typically dispensed as throwaway remarks about his craft, prompted fans to dub Ross “the guru with the paintbrush”. 

Back to my desk calendar - today’s page says “I think everybody needs a friend.  Friends are the most valuable things in the world, and even a little tree needs a friend”. How true is that!  However, he is probably best known for his mantra, “There are no mistakes, just happy little accidents.”, a phrase he repeated in practically every episode as he incorporated rogue brush strokes into the overall effect. There is no denying that it is good to be reminded regularly that mistakes are opportunities...

Bob’s popularity in this country soared after his show became available on BBC iPlayer, and during the height of the pandemic Ross enjoyed something of a resurgence, especially (and slightly bizarrely) with young people and students.  You can find lots of Bob Ross themed paraphernalia on the internet (in fact, I was given a 'happy little accidents' t-shirt by my daughter for my birthday last year!).  

What is the attraction?  Certainly, his mellifluous positivity can be a tonic after a tough day, and perhaps it is as simple as that.  But some see Bob Ross as an early and perhaps unwitting pioneer of mindfulness, before the term was widely used. His sayings were playful and wise and in many ways, he was ahead of his time:

“It’s hard to see things when you are too close. Take a step back and look.”

“We don’t laugh because we feel good, we feel good because we laugh.”

“Talent is a pursued interest. Anything you’re willing to practice, you can do.”

“You can do anything you want. This is your world.”

“Go out on limb. That’s where the fruit is.”

 If you’ve had a hard day, I highly recommend a dose of The Joy of Painting; it may seem a bit strange at first, but give it a chance and the effect might just take hold……

If you want to find out more, you might find this article interesting:

The iconic impact of Bob Ross on popular culture (faroutmagazine.co.uk)

Alistair Duncan
Interim Head