Bob Ross Flashcards
Who was Bob Ross?
“Robert Norman Ross (October 29, 1942 – July 4, 1995) was an American painter, art instructor, and television host.
What was Bob Ross’ show?
He was the creator and host of The Joy of Painting, an instructional television program that aired from 1983 to 1994 on PBS.
What did Bob Ross do as an adolescent?
As an adolescent, Ross cared for injured animals, including armadillos, snakes, alligators and squirrels, one of which was later featured in several episodes of his television show.
What was Bob Ross’ path to becoming a painter?
Ross dropped out of high school in the 9th grade. While working as a carpenter with his father, he lost part of his left index finger, which did not affect his ability to later hold a palette while painting. In 1961, 18-year-old Ross enlisted in the United States Air Force and was put into service as a medical records technician. He rose to the rank of master sergeant and served as the first sergeant of the clinic at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, where he first saw the snow and mountains that later appear as recurring themes in his paintings. He developed his quick painting technique during brief daily work breaks. Having held military positions that required him to act tough and mean, “the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being late to work”, Ross decided he would not raise his voice when he left the military.”
How did Ross start painting?
“During his 20-year Air Force career, Ross developed an interest in painting after attending an art class at the Anchorage U.S.O. club. He found himself frequently at odds with many of his painting instructors, who were more interested in abstract painting.
What painting technique did Bob Ross thrive with?
Ross was working as a part-time bartender when he discovered a TV show called The Magic of Oil Painting, hosted by German painter Bill Alexander. Alexander used a 16th-century painting style called alla prima (Italian for ‘first attempt’), widely known as “wet-on-wet”, that allowed him to create a painting within thirty minutes. Ross studied and mastered the technique, began painting and then successfully selling Alaskan landscapes that he would paint on novelty gold-mining pans.
What was Bob Ross’ popular physical feature?
Ross was noted for his permed hair, which he ultimately disliked but kept after he had integrated it into the company logo.
How did Bob Ross give back?
Ross used his television show to promote a line of art supplies and class recordings, building what would become a $15-million business – Bob Ross Inc. – which would ultimately expand to include classes taught by other artists trained in his methods.
How many paintings was Bob Ross estimated to have made during his lifetime?
30,000
Did Bob Ross get married and have kids?
Regarding his personal life, “Ross was married three times and had two children: a child he fathered from a relationship he had as a teenager, and a son, Robert Stephen “Steve” Ross, with his first wife, Vivian Ridge. Ross and Ridge’s marriage ended in divorce in 1977, allegedly due to Ross’ infidelity. Ross and his second wife Jane had no children together. In 1992, Jane died of cancer. In 1995, two months before his death, Ross married for a third time, to Lynda Brown. Ross was very secretive about his life and had a great preference for privacy.
How did Bob Ross die?
A cigarette smoker for most of his adult life, Ross expected to die young and had several health problems over the course of his life. He died at the age of 52 on July 4, 1995, in Orlando, Florida, due to complications from lymphoma.
