Permalink

YouTube: Bob Ross painting a mountain on fake wood

America’s favourite instructional painter and television personality, Bob Ross, may have passed away over ten years ago – but his legend lives on over at YouTube.

Here’s Bob talking to a tree as he paints it, “Maybe he’s not totally straight. He didn’t want to be a telephone pole when he grew up. He just wanted to be an individual. You decide.”

Here’s the clip: Bob Ross painting a mountain on fake wood

Also, someone’s remixed a video to the song “Loving You” with Bob Ross as the star.

I remember the endless anxiety of watching Bob Ross paint when I was a kid. He’d paint a lush green valley on his canvas only to paint a big black blob in the middle of it. I’d scream at the TV – “What are you doing, Bob? You’ve ruined it!” But then, slowly, a lake would emerge and I’d sigh with relief.

[Link]

  • http://cartooncavalcade.com/ Sam

    has anyone seen the bob ross episode where he’s kind of grumpy and painting the trees and he says something like, “someday there might not be any more little trees”…

    and then later in the same episode he says “happy little moutains, happy little trees, and maybe you can sell this painting and put a happy little buck in your pocket.”

  • http://cartooncavalcade.com Sam

    has anyone seen the bob ross episode where he’s kind of grumpy and painting the trees and he says something like, “someday there might not be any more little trees”…

    and then later in the same episode he says “happy little moutains, happy little trees, and maybe you can sell this painting and put a happy little buck in your pocket.”

  • http://www.eliohouse.com/ elio

    Haha Sam, that sounds too funny! Does anyone seen the episode where he paints with his pet squirrel in his pocket the whole time?! Amazing!

  • http://www.eliohouse.com elio

    Haha Sam, that sounds too funny! Does anyone seen the episode where he paints with his pet squirrel in his pocket the whole time?! Amazing!

  • Naseem

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–Bob Ross is my idol.

  • Naseem

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–Bob Ross is my idol.

  • Lone

    He didnt want to be a telephone pole :D
    It makes you wonder what kids who dont watch Ross today are missing. Even people who dont like art tend to watch him just because he’s Bob and what makes him Bob.

  • Lone

    He didnt want to be a telephone pole :D
    It makes you wonder what kids who dont watch Ross today are missing. Even people who dont like art tend to watch him just because he’s Bob and what makes him Bob.

  • http://www.vincenthauser.se/ VincentVonPrincent

    I laughed so much when I read about your TV-anguish at the blob. Thanks

  • http://www.vincenthauser.se VincentVonPrincent

    I laughed so much when I read about your TV-anguish at the blob. Thanks

  • Kevin

    Man, Bob rules. About ten years ago I used to watch Bob everyday at 1pm. Oddly enough it was on at the same time as the Jerry Springer Show… both ends of the spectrum, but only one was worth watching. Bob Ross was a good man with a great heart, and yes I did see the one with the pet squirrel.

  • Kevin

    Man, Bob rules. About ten years ago I used to watch Bob everyday at 1pm. Oddly enough it was on at the same time as the Jerry Springer Show… both ends of the spectrum, but only one was worth watching. Bob Ross was a good man with a great heart, and yes I did see the one with the pet squirrel.

  • http://www.illustrationfarm.com/ Steve Mack

    Ha ha, summer vacations my brother and I played a similar game of “When is Bob ruining the painting”. A gob for a tree and we’d also shout “That’s it! He’s totally screwed it up!” Of course he’d pull it out into a beautiful rendering and we’d lose our game every time.

    Best,
    Steve

  • http://www.illustrationfarm.com Steve Mack

    Ha ha, summer vacations my brother and I played a similar game of “When is Bob ruining the painting”. A gob for a tree and we’d also shout “That’s it! He’s totally screwed it up!” Of course he’d pull it out into a beautiful rendering and we’d lose our game every time.

    Best,
    Steve

  • Rod F.

    Respect.

  • Rod F.

    Respect.

  • jerrythenerd

    Why are the DVDs from his site so damned expensive? And incomplete — I want *whole seasons* dammit! This is not a joke! They need to sort that bizness out. My money awaits if they get it together.

  • jerrythenerd

    Why are the DVDs from his site so damned expensive? And incomplete — I want *whole seasons* dammit! This is not a joke! They need to sort that bizness out. My money awaits if they get it together.

  • http://www.obscurius.org/ Barkon

    OK. I am so tired of people lauding Bob Ross. If you want to see the true “magic of painting” check out his techer, Bill Alexander (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Alexander_%28television_painter%29)

    I grew up watch Bill on PBS in the 80′s (mostly when home sick) and always loved it. He had a fabulous German accent that could get very quiet when painting ‘happy little trees’ and loud and gleeful whe he applied the ‘Magic Vite (white)” as a canvas prep. He would clean his larger brushes by smack-smacking them on the leg of his easel.

    I watched Bob for a while after Bill left, but after Bill’s charisma, Bob seemed to be sleepwalking. I serioulsly thought he was high. And, even though the paintings now appear identical, I distinctly remember not liking Bob’s style…

    I checked youtube for videos of Bill Alexander, but found none. I heard rumors that Bob got Bill fired from PBS, but I don’t know if it’s true. I do think that it’s not fair that Bob gets the fame while the originator remains unknown.

  • http://www.obscurius.org Barkon

    OK. I am so tired of people lauding Bob Ross. If you want to see the true “magic of painting” check out his techer, Bill Alexander (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Alexander_%28television_painter%29)

    I grew up watch Bill on PBS in the 80′s (mostly when home sick) and always loved it. He had a fabulous German accent that could get very quiet when painting ‘happy little trees’ and loud and gleeful whe he applied the ‘Magic Vite (white)” as a canvas prep. He would clean his larger brushes by smack-smacking them on the leg of his easel.

    I watched Bob for a while after Bill left, but after Bill’s charisma, Bob seemed to be sleepwalking. I serioulsly thought he was high. And, even though the paintings now appear identical, I distinctly remember not liking Bob’s style…

    I checked youtube for videos of Bill Alexander, but found none. I heard rumors that Bob got Bill fired from PBS, but I don’t know if it’s true. I do think that it’s not fair that Bob gets the fame while the originator remains unknown.

  • jerrythenerd

    Yes, I remember Alexander fondly — but was he *literally* Bob’s teacher or do you simply mean he preceded him?

  • jerrythenerd

    Yes, I remember Alexander fondly — but was he *literally* Bob’s teacher or do you simply mean he preceded him?

  • lavacake

    When my son was very young 2 or 3 he would pretend to paint with an empty brush on the TV screen when Bob was on.
    One night during a storm the trees were hitting our house and it must have sounded so scary to him. He asked me what the sound was and I told him it was just the trees outside our window. He looked at me so frightened and said “Happy trees right Mama? Right?”

  • lavacake

    When my son was very young 2 or 3 he would pretend to paint with an empty brush on the TV screen when Bob was on.
    One night during a storm the trees were hitting our house and it must have sounded so scary to him. He asked me what the sound was and I told him it was just the trees outside our window. He looked at me so frightened and said “Happy trees right Mama? Right?”

  • http://www.obscurius.org/ Barkon

    To Jerrythenerd: According to Wikipedia: “On the show he [Bob Ross] often credits Bill Alexander for teaching him this method [of painting trees, water, clouds and mountains in a matter of seconds].”

    But, take that with the usual Wikepedia brand Grain ‘O Salt.

    Bill did preceed, their styles were similar, their shows were similar. Because it’s just as easy to be nice than mean, I’ll believe that Bill taught Bob, rather than Bob ripping off Bill.

    Slightly ironic that Bob outlived Bill in fame, but Bill outlived Bob in life (d. 1997)

    >

    Lavacake. Fantastic story.

  • http://www.obscurius.org Barkon

    To Jerrythenerd: According to Wikipedia: “On the show he [Bob Ross] often credits Bill Alexander for teaching him this method [of painting trees, water, clouds and mountains in a matter of seconds].”

    But, take that with the usual Wikepedia brand Grain ‘O Salt.

    Bill did preceed, their styles were similar, their shows were similar. Because it’s just as easy to be nice than mean, I’ll believe that Bill taught Bob, rather than Bob ripping off Bill.

    Slightly ironic that Bob outlived Bill in fame, but Bill outlived Bob in life (d. 1997)

    >

    Lavacake. Fantastic story.

  • http://diburtimentos.blogspot.com/ dibujador

    where can i see more videos of that guy??
    amazing and funny

  • http://diburtimentos.blogspot.com dibujador

    where can i see more videos of that guy??
    amazing and funny

  • SMurph

    It’s not quite as specifically art related, but I found years ago that Bob was great to watch when you were hungover – low impact, soothing voice. So calm. And you got to see a pretty picture appearing as the show proceeded.

  • SMurph

    It’s not quite as specifically art related, but I found years ago that Bob was great to watch when you were hungover – low impact, soothing voice. So calm. And you got to see a pretty picture appearing as the show proceeded.

  • menphis
  • menphis
  • Owen

    I for one am really glad you posted this because now I know where all those factory painting painters learnt their uh, craft. But honestly, who cares about the painting on fake wood. Where did Bob get his hair do done?

  • Owen

    I for one am really glad you posted this because now I know where all those factory painting painters learnt their uh, craft. But honestly, who cares about the painting on fake wood. Where did Bob get his hair do done?

  • David

    This is a bit mean-spirited, but the contrast between Bob and the competitor is funny, I think.

  • David

    This is a bit mean-spirited, but the contrast between Bob and the competitor is funny, I think.

  • lavacake

    Oh Man David that one made me flinch!!

    Can’t let my son see that.

    Oh man.

  • lavacake

    Oh Man David that one made me flinch!!

    Can’t let my son see that.

    Oh man.

  • bluejackal

    Say what you will about Bob. Whether he ripped off or not, I wouldn’t have the interest in art I have today if I hadn’t seen him showing the world how interesting painting can be.

  • bluejackal

    Say what you will about Bob. Whether he ripped off or not, I wouldn’t have the interest in art I have today if I hadn’t seen him showing the world how interesting painting can be.

  • octopus

    When i was at school many years ago, art was a subject I was only too happy to give up. My efforts were derided by the teacher, and I was given no encouragement. I am therfore amazed that a long-dead bushy haired man has reached out to me from beyond his grave, and convinced me that I can do it. And lo and behold, I can!! Thank you Bob, and I am sad that your premature death means I can never thank you in person. I hope you are in happy little sky heaven surrounded by your furry friends.

  • octopus

    When i was at school many years ago, art was a subject I was only too happy to give up. My efforts were derided by the teacher, and I was given no encouragement. I am therfore amazed that a long-dead bushy haired man has reached out to me from beyond his grave, and convinced me that I can do it. And lo and behold, I can!! Thank you Bob, and I am sad that your premature death means I can never thank you in person. I hope you are in happy little sky heaven surrounded by your furry friends.

  • http://iamant.com/blog/2007/03/29/closergetting-closer/ IamAnt.com – the online portfolio of artist Anthony Harris » Blog Archive » closer…getting closer

    [...] God bless Bob Ross [...]

  • rokridge

    He was the sweetest man who ever lived! I kept the knowledge of his death from my wife for years. Goodbye my friend.

  • rokridge

    He was the sweetest man who ever lived! I kept the knowledge of his death from my wife for years. Goodbye my friend.

  • http://www.frankensugar.com/?p=30 FrankenSugar » Bob Ross

    [...] Drawn! The Illustration and Cartooning Blog � Blog Archive � YouTube: Bob Ross painting a mounta… [...]

  • http://frances.fastnewsdigest.info/bobross.html bob ross

    [...] and television personality, bob Ross, may have passed away over ten years ago – but his legend …http://drawn.ca/2006/10/01/youtube-bob-ross-painting-a-mountain-on-fake-wood/Bob Ross Workshops… paintings, but offers classes in the bob ross unique style of oil painting as [...]

  • janegraley

    i would like to know how to paint a mountain of trees