He was born in Daytona Beach and was called Robert Norman Ross. To the world, he will forever be Bob Ross, the mild mannered artist who brought the joy of painting into American households. Literally.
Yes, he’s the guy with the big hair.
His PBS program The Joy of Painting ran from 1983 to 1994 but the show continues to be popular thanks to the magic of the internet and to channels like Pluto and Tubi that offer all 31 seasons of the show in reruns.
He filmed series two through fifteen for the PBS affiliate in Muncie, Indiana in the former home of Lucious Ball. It’s now owned by Minnetrista and it is that organization that operates the museum.
I watched an episode of his show last night where he talked about “distant trees that live far away” and “what a view they would have.” His tone and attitude were charming and his ideas for painting were approachable. He said you begin to see things when you paint and that it needn’t be perfect. “We call them happy accidents and they can be your best friend.”
“I’ve painted like this for twenty years and I still get excited when I see it work,” he said. And I believed him. He seemed genuinely excited about his work.
Perhaps that’s why visitors still come to Muncie from far and wide for a glimpse into his world at the Bob Ross Experience.
Please note that this is not a large museum but what they have is quality. There’s a living room area, a gallery of his paintings and, of course, the tv studio.
It’s all well done but I found the studio enchanting. They have set up a painting on an easel, along with his brushes. If you look into the camera, you’ll see a looping clip of the episode where he painted this piece. As he happily paints, chatting with the viewer, you’re almost certain you might catch a glimpse of him in real life – if only you could look quickly enough.
There was much wisdom to be found in his life philosophies and his words are almost as prominent here as his art.
That should come as no surprise, I suppose. The Cold War era US Air Force Master Sergeant lived a full life before becoming part of the pop culture landscape. He spent free time during his twenty years of military service painting and improving his art. He was a lover of nature and wildlife who sometimes took in injured animals. He was a soft spoken man, very private and seemingly kind. He grew to hate his permed hair but recognized that it was as much a part of his brand as the line of paint supplies he sold. He seemed zen, savvy and wise beyond his years.
There’s something calming about watching Bob Ross bring a blank canvas to life with his wet on wet technique. It’s a little like an episode of Mr Rogers for artistic grown ups when he says “let’s have some fun, let’s get crazy.”
Tragically, the lifelong smoker died of Lymphoma on July 4, 1995. He was just 52.
But he lives on through the countless budding artists he inspired, through the reruns that cause us to marvel at his talent, and through the Bob Ross certified instructors who continue to teach his method.
Admission includes the grounds and public facilities of Minnetrista as well as the Bob Ross Experience. Get info on all that here and check it out if you’re in the area.
Did you see my story about Muncie this week? Click here to catch up.
