Artist, Television Personality. Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, he dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and, in 1960, joined the United States Air Force. First stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska as a medical records technician, he went on to serve twenty years, and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1981. His second career had started with painting classes at a USO club, and then, with Bill Alexander, who hosted "The Magic of Oil Painting" on PBS from 1972 to 1982. Alexander favored an "alla prima" or wet-on-wet oil paint technique, which he taught to Ross. Ross then began teaching painting classes in Clearwater, Florida. After a period of painting seminars in shopping malls, he became the successor to Alexander on PBS. The first episode of "Joy of Painting," filmed at the public broadcasting station WIPB, in Muncie, Indiana, aired in January 1983. His serene, soft-spoken delivery became an understated phenomenon. Phrases he used often, such as "happy little trees" and "We don't make mistakes; we just have happy accidents," have entered the popular lexicon. He was described as being intimate with his audience without being intrusive. Building on the program's popularity, he incorporated as Bob Ross, Inc. which became a $15 million business, providing art supplies, how-to books, and certified Bob Ross method instructors. The show ran for over a decade, the last episode airing in May 1994; shortly after he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He succumbed to illness at age of 52, little more than a year later. He once estimated that he had completed between 25,000 and 30,000 paintings in his lifetime. His popularity has lasted far after his passing, and he has become part of American Pop culture.
Artist, Television Personality. Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, he dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and, in 1960, joined the United States Air Force. First stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska as a medical records technician, he went on to serve twenty years, and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1981. His second career had started with painting classes at a USO club, and then, with Bill Alexander, who hosted "The Magic of Oil Painting" on PBS from 1972 to 1982. Alexander favored an "alla prima" or wet-on-wet oil paint technique, which he taught to Ross. Ross then began teaching painting classes in Clearwater, Florida. After a period of painting seminars in shopping malls, he became the successor to Alexander on PBS. The first episode of "Joy of Painting," filmed at the public broadcasting station WIPB, in Muncie, Indiana, aired in January 1983. His serene, soft-spoken delivery became an understated phenomenon. Phrases he used often, such as "happy little trees" and "We don't make mistakes; we just have happy accidents," have entered the popular lexicon. He was described as being intimate with his audience without being intrusive. Building on the program's popularity, he incorporated as Bob Ross, Inc. which became a $15 million business, providing art supplies, how-to books, and certified Bob Ross method instructors. The show ran for over a decade, the last episode airing in May 1994; shortly after he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He succumbed to illness at age of 52, little more than a year later. He once estimated that he had completed between 25,000 and 30,000 paintings in his lifetime. His popularity has lasted far after his passing, and he has become part of American Pop culture.
Bio by: Iola
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