Ross studied with Alexander in Florida after he retired from the Air Force in 1981, and soon began dreaming up the creation of his own company, Bob Ross Inc. He took particular interest in German painter Bill Alexander, the host of The Magic of Oil Painting, who used a technique called “wet-on-wet.” This technique allowed an artist to complete a painting in 30 minutes or less. While based in Alaska, he would squirrel away pockets of time to paint after attending a class at the Anchorage USO club.
The TV personality, best known for his 1980s PBS series The Joy of Painting, didn’t sit for many interviews, though his soothing voice and casual life wisdom have stood the test of time.īorn Robert Norman Ross in 1942, Ross first encountered painting when he was serving in the United States Air Force. If the only thing you know about Bob Ross is his signature permed hair and the phrase “happy little trees,” you’re not alone.
