Meet the meticulous artist behind those happy trees (SLNPR)

August 30, 2016 2:56 AM

The Real Bob Ross

NPR talks to Annette Kowalski, Bob Ross' long-time business partner.

posted by unannihilated (19 comments total)

It's hard to know how to feel about the "happy little accidents" being rehearsed. : \
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:58 AM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]

It's hard to know how to feel about the "happy little accidents" being rehearsed.

Bob was teaching. That was just his way of instructing you how to 1.) Deal with a mistake, and 2.) Not get upset about making a mistake and just roll with it as something positive.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:06 AM on August 30, 2016 [19 favorites]

I think that it shows he knew the power of aphorisms from his time in the military.
posted by peeedro at 5:08 AM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]

The Real(er) Bob Ross
posted by Mayor West at 5:10 AM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]

I'm just glad that one my faves is not so problematic. I've had to knock so many personal heroes off their pedestals, please oh please let bob Ross stay up on his hahahahaha
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:36 AM on August 30, 2016 [10 favorites]

So, if you call 1-800-BOB-ROSS (squee!) you get a real-live human IMMEDIATELY who says "Thank you for calling the Bob Ross company, this is [name ommitted], how may I help you?"
posted by Doleful Creature at 6:14 AM on August 30, 2016

Mayor West, that was really something else. I laughed out loud. So much. I don't do video games, so the wit had to be solid -- and it was.

Guys, you need to see that video. With audio on.
posted by amtho at 6:27 AM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]

I was driving when I heard this yesterday and nearly drove off the road laughing when after all the "happy little trees" and "God bless"'s she was asked, "What was Bob Ross really like?" And she responded, "HE WAS A TYRANT!"
posted by apparently at 6:29 AM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]

I think after spending... literally any ... time teaching it becomes obvious that someone as seamless as Bob Ross has done each of those paintings numerous times. It's also not too surprising he was extremely particular given each series he was on had such consistent and deliberate tone.

The fact that his hair is naturally straight... Yeah... NPR is right... That's the real lede.
posted by midmarch snowman at 6:32 AM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]

When people (adults) question why my son loves to watch YouTube videos of people playing video games and opening packages of toys, I always ask them about Bob Ross. He was a YouTube star (on PBS) before YouTube was a glimmer in anyone's eye.

In both cases its the presenter who matters -- the voice, how they make you feel, the bond you develop with them -- not the material being presented.
posted by anastasiav at 6:43 AM on August 30, 2016 [10 favorites]

i'm sure i've posted this before, but Family Guy (back before it became a representation of everything that's wrong with the world) had a pretty funny Bob Ross scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1JKAyxk9cs
posted by bitteroldman at 7:49 AM on August 30, 2016

Bob Ross was straight-up the inventor of ASMR videos (and QVC, unboxing/toys - everybody has that one relative who watched it 18 hours a day. Cooking shows = letsplay). We're just much more articulate about self-soothing now.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:51 AM on August 30, 2016 [8 favorites]

I WILL SEE YOU SQUARED AWAY IMMEDIATELY OR I WILL CYCLE YOU UNTIL THE EARTH RECIEVES NO SUNSHINE DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME RECRUIT!!!???
YOU WILL SCRUB THE LATRINE TO THE BONE.
YOU WILL NOT LAUGH, YOU WILL NOT CRY, YOU WILL… is that a happy little tree?

WHAT IS A HAPPY LITTLE TREE DOING THERE!!!???


It would be surreal to have had Bob Ross as a drill instructor. Although I suppose they’re more laid back. Still, seeing your DI on t.v. being a nice guy, much less human, much less Bob "Ultimate Mellow" Ross, would blow your mind.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:07 AM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]

Bob Ross was straight-up the inventor of ASMR videos (and QVC, unboxing/toys - everybody has that one relative who watched it 18 hours a day. Cooking shows = letsplay).

And yet I despise all those things, but will happily watch Bob Ross.
posted by bongo_x at 11:07 AM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]

If PBS had had the foresight to make a crossover with Bob Ross teaching Mister Rogers to paint, we would have the most soothing video known to humanity.
posted by nicebookrack at 12:49 PM on August 30, 2016 [7 favorites]

I was disappointed this actually had very little information about his personality, goals, challenges etc.
posted by smoke at 2:21 PM on August 30, 2016

And yet I despise all those things, but will happily watch Bob Ross.

Ladies and gentlemen: the generation gap.
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:45 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]

If PBS had had the foresight to make a crossover with Bob Ross teaching Mister Rogers to paint, we would have the most soothing video known to humanity.

Video Valium.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:23 PM on August 30, 2016

HBO should start running Bob Ross videos after Game of Thrones episodes.
posted by Ber at 7:55 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]