All you need is the desire to make beautiful things happen on canvas.
Bob Ross
Like many other disciplines, tutorials and instructions have been heavily influenced by the television. The innovation of moving images has become an unimaginable step forward for tutorial making, with the ability to translate movements and actions like never before. When it comes to painting, it seems obvious that the gap between steady instructions, and precise movements had to be filled by the TV; but at the time, someone had to be illuminated enough to get that idea.
There was one genius who had that thought. From the 80s to the mid 90s, the Joy of Painting was a popular instructional TV show, hosted by former aviation sergeant and painter Bob Ross. From one day to another, millions of people could learn how to paint from home, all at once, following a Bob Ross tutorial.
Key Characteristics of the Joy of Painting
Preparation
Ross produced three versions of each painting. Initially, he created a preliminary version before filming, positioned on an easel off-camera, used as a model for a second rendition, the one viewers witnessed him create during taping. Then, post-filming, he would paint a third version, improved with details, for including in his instructional publications.
Clear progress
Every episode of the show starts with blank white canvas, where the painter applied a thin layer of ‘liquid white’. Always starting with cris-cross strokes to establish a background for the landscape, the tutorial can be split into steps. To let the viewers know where they are, Bob often refers to the amounts of details to identify the progress of the painting: while the background will more often be composed of abstract shapes and darker colours, the front will contain all the details and the brighter color, for achieving a more realistic depth of field while respecting well structured step-by-step guidelines.
If the painting tutorials was planned to take longer than the TV show’s time slot, then the earliest steps were prepared before the episode, optimising time and allowing to pass through it quickly with a short and clear explanation.
Accessibility
Bob Ross, with his hearty and touching personality, instructed viewers regarding the techniques that he had been using with his own recurrent jargon. By avoiding more technical and professional vocabulary, Bob enhanced the accessibility to beginners and new viewers, while at the same time creating a strong and recognisable identity which helped him get referenced very well. Leaving some room for adaptation and imagination, he often refers to the fact that “there’s no mistakes here, just happy accidents”, and that the goal of the instructions in art are to guide and introduce techniques, but not to replicate a perfect copy-paste of the landscapes.
I can create the kind of world that I want, and I can make this world as happy as I want it.
Bob Ross
Visual demonstration
The materials used are always some fine art basics that any painter should have around in their inventory. At the beginning of each episode, the colours that will be used in the tutorial are written down and run across the screen, with some reminders now and then from the painter, when he starts mixing some colours on his palette. Bob Ross always makes sure to mention which brush he is using, and the reason behind it.
The tone
Impossible to talk about Bob Ross without mentioning his light, chill, and relaxing tone. His voice and choice of vocabulary help the viewers relax and enjoy the tutorial without unnecessary pressure. The host makes sure there is time to follow what his doing, despite the time limit of 30 minutes. The painter had the gift of attaching human emotions to the objects he was painting, describing each item in the landscape with adjectives such as “happy little tree” to make his teaching more cheerful and peaceful, encouraging positivity while learning.
Evolution of the show
Predecessor
The Joy of Painting was famously inspired by The Magic of Oil painting, an older show from the 1970’s, hosted by Ross’s mentor Bill Alexander. The process of the Joy of Painting was already implemented in a very similar way by The Magic of Oil painting. Ross learned from Bill Alexander the “wet-on-wet” technique, on the white-liquid filled canvas, and inspired most of his tone and ways of teaching from him.
Legacy
Bob Ross’s influence on instructional painting is still noticeable today. Many contemporary painting tutorials and instructional videos on platforms like YouTube and social media channels draw inspiration from his approach. Artists and instructors copied Ross’s clear step-by-step guidance, and emphasis on embracing mistakes as part of the creative process. For instance, channels like “The Art Sherpa” explicitly reference Bob Ross’s techniques and philosophy in her tutorials, targeting a new generation of beginner painters who seek the same sense of relaxation and encouragement that Ross provided. Additionally, the rise of virtual painting classes and workshops, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflects Ross’s legacy of making art accessible to all, regardless of skill level or background.
Bob Ross’ work can be found in various museum exhibitions in the U.S, and Netflix dedicated a full documentary to his work in 2021. Most recently, a movie has been released in April 2023: a comedy-drama inspired by Bob Ross’ work and career, with an original plot about a famous painter who hosted a TV show for nearly 30 years, who find himself in competition with his talented apprentice.
Finally, to wrap up, pay a visit to our Crafts page, where you can find easy to follow StepAlongs that relate to the world of Arts & Crafts. Painting tutorials, and other step-by-step guides can be easily accessed.
Recommended post: Instructions of Legend: Haynes.
