Bob Ross has been such a great inspiration for me since I discovered him several years ago. I did not grow up watching his phenomenal videos, but when my students said that my encouragement to them to try, to see any mistakes as "Happy accidents", to learn from them just like I do, were reminding them of Bob Ross, I had to take a look at his work!
Wow! His voice, his love for painting, for expressing oneself through arts and sharing his JOY with the World is just an incredible journey. Since then, I have read a lot about him, I have a book with his "quotes" that is in my desk, and I frequently take a look at it, as a source of inspiration.
Last year as I travelled to Indiana to teach some cartonnage classes, I decided to finally stop at the Bob Ross Experience in Muncie. And I spent a few wonderful hours there! I learned so much about this incredible man who reinvented himself, that followed his heart and become this icon, mentor, inspiration to so many people, and still inspire us today, even not being with us in this planet for long time. We are definitely so blessed to have Bob sharing with us his technique, but more than this, his philosophy, his way of living and looking at things with love and JOY.
The Bob Ross Experience is a "museum" located in the historic home where The Joy of Painting was filmed. The immersive exhibition features original paintings and artifacts, inspiring visitors with Bob’s message of fearless creativity. There we can step into the restored television studio and stand where Bob stood, at the iconic easel where he beat the devil out of his brushes. And here you can see me (happy just like a little child!!) standing in the room where Bob filmed his videos - I can't express in words what I felt there - it was pure magic!
Across the hall, we are transported to a 1980s living room, the setting where much of the world discovered and enjoyed Bob. I watched the videos there and I was very impressed to know that he had a very large audience for his videos, but actually only 3% of the viewers were actually painting with them at the moment, but they kept watching because Bob was not just teaching how to paint - he was sharing JOY and everyone watching could feel it, so he did started a movement of creative living that goes deep in the soul, not only in the art supplies or final painting.
I left the museum at that day with my heart even more full of enthusiasm, love and JOY for life, for what I do, for the blessings in my life!
As Bob perfectly told us "The secret to doing anything is believing that you can do it. Anything that you believe you can do strong enough, you can do. Anything. As long as you believe."
When visiting the museum I felt that I wanted to take a Bob Ross class! SO badly...LOL... but I haven't paint anything in a good while, and I never considered myself talented in painting.... I know about gluing, making boxes, but painting would require more talent... that was the voice in my head! Anyway, I started looking for a place where I could take a class with a Bob Ross certified teacher, and the closest to me I found was in Detroit area. So, there I went. Day trip, had to sleep there because the class was at evening, and I live about 3h away.
I had such a great time there!! The class was with Ted Simpson, a Certified Bob Ross Instructor the was guiding us just like Bob!! I could feel the JOY and the message from Bob in Ted's words, teaching style, it was just a wonderful experience.
See below some pictures of the evolution of the painting and my final paint! Just like Bob said - ANYONE can do this!! Seriously, it was so much fun, and I'm impressed by the final result. I can barely believe I did it.... very proud of myself for trying, having fun and creating something beautiful.
So, since I came home from that class, I wanted to paint more, and so I had the idea of inviting Ted to come and teach a class in our shop. And I was so happy when he agreed in coming all the way, so we can now experience the Bob's way of painting right here in Grand Haven, MI.
Ted wants to continue the legacy of The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, to show the current and future generations how to paint. His aim is to cultivate a lasting passion for art, much like the one that Bob ignited within him. Since 2017 he has been travelling the country sharing his love of nature and arts, including teaching at Bob Ross Gallery and Workshop, in Florida for training new certified teachers.
Then, I'm thrilled to invite you to join us in this wonderful journey. Let's get started with this painting as you can see below, and if we get enough people interested we can bring Ted again for more classes (I do hope that our community gets excited and involved in this idea!)
For more information and to join our class, click here.
Bob once said "There's an artist hidden at the bottom of every single one of us", and I truly agree with that, in every single word.
If you are afraid you are not talented enough to paint.... I also believed that before going to that class, and end up with a paint I'm proud of and most important, had a great experience creating it! And, just a reminder, as Bob also told us "Anything we don't like, we'll turn it into a happy little tree or something; we don't make mistakes, we just have happy accidents."
So here is my invitation - visit the Bob Ross Experience if you can, and join us in this new adventure of painting at ColorWay Arts in Grand Haven, MI.
What is your favorite quote from Bob? Tell us in the comments!
Any questions, you can contact us here.
I hope to see you here! Let's enjoy the ride and paint some trees! You can do this!