Happy Little Clouds
July 26, 2012 10:35 AM Subscribe
I simply can't imagine him as a D.I. type of person, screaming at somebody to drop and give him 20 and then clean the latrine.
posted by COD at 10:54 AM on July 26, 2012
posted by COD at 10:54 AM on July 26, 2012
Now I want to see a painting show hosted by R. Lee Ermey.
posted by bondcliff at 10:59 AM on July 26, 2012 [17 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 10:59 AM on July 26, 2012 [17 favorites]
Bob talked a lot about his love of Alaska (he said he lived there for "a dozen years").
But he didn't develop the "wet-on-wet" technique he's best known for. Ross was an acolyte of William Alexander, the "Happy Painter" best known for his German accent and his love of the "almighty brush".
There's a few things I like to adopt as life philosophies from Bob Ross, though.
1. In life, there's no such thing as a mistake, only happy accidents.
2. It's your world. You can do anything.
3. Every tree has to have a friend.
posted by inturnaround at 11:04 AM on July 26, 2012 [14 favorites]
But he didn't develop the "wet-on-wet" technique he's best known for. Ross was an acolyte of William Alexander, the "Happy Painter" best known for his German accent and his love of the "almighty brush".
There's a few things I like to adopt as life philosophies from Bob Ross, though.
1. In life, there's no such thing as a mistake, only happy accidents.
2. It's your world. You can do anything.
3. Every tree has to have a friend.
posted by inturnaround at 11:04 AM on July 26, 2012 [14 favorites]
Mr. Ross, I believe but my paintings still look like shit. Now what?
posted by stormpooper at 11:11 AM on July 26, 2012
posted by stormpooper at 11:11 AM on July 26, 2012
As long as it's happy shit.
posted by NoMich at 11:14 AM on July 26, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by NoMich at 11:14 AM on July 26, 2012 [5 favorites]
A great show and a great guy. And if you can't sleep. he helps with that too.
posted by freakazoid at 11:14 AM on July 26, 2012
posted by freakazoid at 11:14 AM on July 26, 2012
I'm sorry, but this is still the definitive Bob Ross remix.
posted by Godwin Interjection at 11:15 AM on July 26, 2012
posted by Godwin Interjection at 11:15 AM on July 26, 2012
Bob Ross is my anti-depressant; just what I needed today, thanks!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:17 AM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:17 AM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
But he didn't develop the "wet-on-wet" technique he's best known for. Ross was an acolyte of William Alexander, the "Happy Painter" best known for his German accent and his love of the "almighty brush".
Patton Oswalt on Bob Ross & William Alexander.
posted by KingEdRa at 11:22 AM on July 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Patton Oswalt on Bob Ross & William Alexander.
posted by KingEdRa at 11:22 AM on July 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
I've said this before: it boggles the mind that 30 years later, long after his death, in this face-paced, overstimulated society, and with television in decline, he's still popular enough to be broadcast on PBS every single day. I can't even wear last fall's outfit without someone saying "oh that's SO last fall."
posted by Melismata at 11:24 AM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 11:24 AM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Loved it. LOVED IT... even though by rights it should end with "God bless, my friend."
My brother tried very hard to paint along with him, but a) he was an awkward lefty and b) he only had watercolors :P
posted by Madamina at 11:32 AM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
My brother tried very hard to paint along with him, but a) he was an awkward lefty and b) he only had watercolors :P
posted by Madamina at 11:32 AM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
This remains my favorite Bob Ross tribute: an original song and music video called "Why I Don't Paint People".
On behalf of us all here, happy painting and God bless, my friend.
posted by inturnaround at 11:37 AM on July 26, 2012
On behalf of us all here, happy painting and God bless, my friend.
posted by inturnaround at 11:37 AM on July 26, 2012
"Why I Don't Paint People"
I'm not that familiar with Ross or his work, but I imagine it's much more difficult to get them to stand still.
posted by Naberius at 12:05 PM on July 26, 2012
I'm not that familiar with Ross or his work, but I imagine it's much more difficult to get them to stand still.
posted by Naberius at 12:05 PM on July 26, 2012
bondcliff: "Now I want to see a painting show hosted by R. Lee Ermey."
You call that a happy cloud, MAGGOT?
posted by Splunge at 12:35 PM on July 26, 2012 [5 favorites]
You call that a happy cloud, MAGGOT?
posted by Splunge at 12:35 PM on July 26, 2012 [5 favorites]
Back when there was no internet, and only half a dozen tv channels in the U.S., William Alexander was a pretty useful artist role model to a kid.
posted by R. Mutt at 1:29 PM on July 26, 2012
posted by R. Mutt at 1:29 PM on July 26, 2012
If I had an original Bob Ross, I'd hang it front-and-center in my living room. As my friend used to say, "aircraft carrier, unicorn, and all".
posted by ob1quixote at 1:57 PM on July 26, 2012
posted by ob1quixote at 1:57 PM on July 26, 2012
An early love of Bob Ross led to my only gallery sale; a landscape I'd painted while watching his show, at the age of six.
It fetched $75, and the gallery was kind enough to waive its usual commission. I often wonder if it's still hanging on someone's wall.
I credit Bob as the prime factor in my decision to become an artist. His work is just brush tricks, but it got me painting and thinking visually.
posted by balistic at 2:52 PM on July 26, 2012
It fetched $75, and the gallery was kind enough to waive its usual commission. I often wonder if it's still hanging on someone's wall.
I credit Bob as the prime factor in my decision to become an artist. His work is just brush tricks, but it got me painting and thinking visually.
posted by balistic at 2:52 PM on July 26, 2012
Naberius: ""Why I Don't Paint People"
I'm not that familiar with Ross or his work, but I imagine it's much more difficult to get them to stand still."
Stand still like clouds do, you mean?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:20 PM on July 26, 2012
I'm not that familiar with Ross or his work, but I imagine it's much more difficult to get them to stand still."
Stand still like clouds do, you mean?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:20 PM on July 26, 2012
SO needed this today! And of course, my 14-yr-old son walks by while I'm watching, contemplates, and proclaims, "He looks like Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris with a 'fro."
posted by theplotchickens at 4:30 PM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by theplotchickens at 4:30 PM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have really enjoyed all of these PBS remixes so far. They really have managed to remind me of why I loved Carl Sagan, Mr. Rogers and Bob Ross in the first place.
"There are no limits here." God, I almost teared up and I never had an emotional reaction to Bob Ross before.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:22 PM on July 26, 2012
"There are no limits here." God, I almost teared up and I never had an emotional reaction to Bob Ross before.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:22 PM on July 26, 2012
This “autotuned remix” you speak of — I do not think it always conveys the same “respect for a beloved figure” that you think it does.
posted by mubba at 6:46 PM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mubba at 6:46 PM on July 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Does anyone else remember when he did a show with a squirrel tucked in his pocket while he painted? I just tried to find it, but I could only find this clip of him feeding a squirrel.
Thanks for posting this. Happy little memories.
posted by flyingsquirrel at 7:13 PM on July 26, 2012
Thanks for posting this. Happy little memories.
posted by flyingsquirrel at 7:13 PM on July 26, 2012
mubba: "This “autotuned remix” you speak of — I do not think it always conveys the same “respect for a beloved figure” that you think it does."
Actually I agree here. I don't dislike the video. But nothing is as soothing and pleasant to me as Bob Ross. Just Bob Ross.
To be quite honest, Bob on Sunday, on PBS was one of my favorite hangover remedies. His show, a greasy breakfast and a huge bottle of ice cold water. I stopped worrying about the world. I just got into the zen of Bob. Me and my Black Lab. her licking my face, knowing I was in pain. And we watched the happy clouds and the trees just being there. And everything was right where it should be...
posted by Splunge at 8:17 PM on July 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Actually I agree here. I don't dislike the video. But nothing is as soothing and pleasant to me as Bob Ross. Just Bob Ross.
To be quite honest, Bob on Sunday, on PBS was one of my favorite hangover remedies. His show, a greasy breakfast and a huge bottle of ice cold water. I stopped worrying about the world. I just got into the zen of Bob. Me and my Black Lab. her licking my face, knowing I was in pain. And we watched the happy clouds and the trees just being there. And everything was right where it should be...
posted by Splunge at 8:17 PM on July 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
This made me so happy.
posted by roger ackroyd at 8:47 PM on July 26, 2012
posted by roger ackroyd at 8:47 PM on July 26, 2012
Does anyone else remember when he did a show with a squirrel tucked in his pocket while he painted?
Peapod, the pocket squirrel.
He'd bring a bunch of "little critters" on the show and he would speak of supporting the various bird ladies in your local community who take care of injured birds.
posted by inturnaround at 6:56 AM on July 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Peapod, the pocket squirrel.
He'd bring a bunch of "little critters" on the show and he would speak of supporting the various bird ladies in your local community who take care of injured birds.
posted by inturnaround at 6:56 AM on July 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
My thought process on seeing the thread title...
"Please be melodysheep. Please be melodysheep. Please be melodysheep. Awwwww yeassssssss."
This “autotuned remix” you speak of — I do not think it always conveys the same “respect for a beloved figure” that you think it does.
I believe that melodysheep brings out everything we love about our beloved figures, including the fact they are sometimes more than a little bit dorky. In our current culture, a straight-up tribute without a little nod to irony can, in its own right, be mocked. The inclusion of some gentle mockery inoculates the work so that it isn't dismissed.
melodysheep is like, "Yeah, Carl Sagan whooped like a dolphin. You got a problem with that?"
posted by BrashTech at 2:32 PM on July 27, 2012
"Please be melodysheep. Please be melodysheep. Please be melodysheep. Awwwww yeassssssss."
This “autotuned remix” you speak of — I do not think it always conveys the same “respect for a beloved figure” that you think it does.
I believe that melodysheep brings out everything we love about our beloved figures, including the fact they are sometimes more than a little bit dorky. In our current culture, a straight-up tribute without a little nod to irony can, in its own right, be mocked. The inclusion of some gentle mockery inoculates the work so that it isn't dismissed.
melodysheep is like, "Yeah, Carl Sagan whooped like a dolphin. You got a problem with that?"
posted by BrashTech at 2:32 PM on July 27, 2012
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