Bob Ross was a cult figure in the 80s and 90s. Now a gallery in Minneapolis is offering his debut work for ten million dollars.
The title of his TV shows said it all: “The Joy of Painting”. Bob Ross saw himself as a painter for the people. With his TV shows between 1983 and 1994, he brought the noble art of painting into living rooms around the world in a way that everyone could understand and always accompanied by a smile. His message: Painting is not an elite affair, it can be learned and brings joy and relaxation. “A Walk in the Woods”, the first picture by the TV cult painter Bob Ross (1942-1995), is for sale for 9.85 million dollars (around 9.25 million euros).
“Not a masterpiece, but that’s not the point”
According to Ryan Nelson, owner of the Modern Artifact gallery in Minneapolis, “Walk in the Woods” is not a masterpiece, but that’s not the point: “It’s not a high-profile gallery that tells you that Bob Ross is great. It’s the general public, the population of the world, that says Bob Ross is great,” Nelson said. With his “Walk in the Forest”, Bob Ross not only opened a series of more than 400 pictures that he painted live in front of the eyes of television viewers in half an hour during his cult TV series. He also proved how democratic and predictable the art of painting can be if it is presented calmly.
Folk painter Bob Ross
“Let the canvas and the brush work for you. You just enjoy.” In Bob Ross’s world there was no unnecessary rush. He left dark colors to other artists as well as the depiction of the brokenness of the world. When Bob Ross swung his brush across the canvas in gentle movements, it had a meditative quality. His shows quickly achieved cult status on German television in the 80s and 90s – and were never dubbed. They are still broadcast today in various third-party programs.
Painter after 20 years in the US Air Force
Ross, the son of a carpenter and a waitress, studied painting at various colleges in the 1970s. At the same time, the school dropout was employed by the US Air Force for two decades before resigning in 1981. After the first filming, a local Chicago station offered him his own regular program in 1983, which was broadcast in 404 episodes from 1983 and became an international TV success. In 1995, Ross died of lymphatic cancer in Florida.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
