American painter, art instructor, television host, and Air Force master sergeant (1942–1995)
He turned landscape painting into a low-stakes meditation watched by millions, speaking in a whisper and telling viewers there are no mistakes, only happy accidents.
Born in Daytona Beach, Florida on October 29, 1942, Ross joined the Air Force in 1961 and rose to master sergeant, painting in his off-hours after discovering Bill Alexander's The Magic of Oil Painting on television. His side income from art eventually outpaced his military salary, and after retiring in 1981, he was discovered by Annette Kowalski, who'd attended one of his tutoring sessions. She and her husband helped him launch Bob Ross Inc., and in 1982 a pilot aired; PBS stations picked up The Joy of Painting the following year, employing him through WIPB in Muncie, Indiana. For over a deca…
Sourced, dated quotes from Bob Ross
I've never claimed that this is investment art. When we first started out, all the art colleges and universities across the country would sort of badmouth what we were doing.
I started painting as a hobby when I was little. I didn't know I had any talent. I believe talent is just a pursued interest. Anybody can do what I do.
People have success with this method and it gets them excited. It gets them hooked.
Within one hour of touching the brush to canvas for the first time, my students have a total, complete painting.
I have to paint fast on television because of the limited time, but I don't want people to see what I'm showing them as work, something to worry and fret over.
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