About Bob

About Bob

By Annette Kowalski

(Annette Kowalski is the executive producer of "The Joy Of Painting" TV series and the author and publisher of all of "The Joy Of Painting" books. She developed close and lasting friendship and business relationship with Bob)

Bob Ross discovered his passion for painting while he was stationed with the Air Force in Alaska. After growing up in Florida, he was overcome by Alaska's majestic white peaks and deep turquoise lakes, and by the snow he'd never seen before. The impressive surroundings inspired him to paint, so he enrolled in several art classes. But the regimented orthodox approach left Bob feeling frustrated and impatient. Then one day Bob saw Bill Alexander's television painting program. He was captivated by the charm and inspiration radiating from Alexander, as well as by his painting technique and unorthodox tools. Bob realized this was the "impatient approach" to painting he'd been searching for.

Bob replicated Alexander's unique painting knife by painstakingly grinding and honing a thick, heavy putty knife. He also bought several 2" and 1/2" house-painting brushes. Then he worked on developing his own technique that would allow him to complete a painting in a short period of time. With his new tools and skills, Bob was able to supplement his airman's pay by teaching painting classes. Soon after, Bob was ecstatic to be accepted into one of Bill Alexander's painting seminars. As it turned out, Alexander was as impressed with Bob and his self-taught painting technique as Bob was with him. By then, Bob had fulfilled his 20-year obligation to the Air Force, so he immediately accepted Alexander's invitation to join the Alexander Magic Company, headquartered in Salem, Oregon. Bob was supposed to travel the country teaching painting classes for the retiring Bill Alexander.

So, in 1981, armed with $1,000, Bob left Alaska, his wife Jane and his son Steve, and set out for Oregon in a tiny motor home. He promised Jane that he'd give up his "crazy" dream of becoming a traveling artist and return home when he could no longer afford to live on the road. At first, Bob left certain he'd have to return to Alaska, penniless. There had always been a great demand for Bill Alexander's to teach painting classes in regional art shops throughout the country, but not many stores would risk hiring the unknown Bob Ross. So Bob spent most of his time as an unpaid employee of the Alexander magic Company, filling small tins with magic White. He became frustrated when not many teaching jobs materialized and his saving dwindled.

A CHANCE MEETING

A year after Bob started instructing for the Magic Company, I attended one of his seminars in Clearwater, Florida. As his calm, soothing voice settled any anxiety I had about painting, he created his now famous Alaskan mountain-scapes for the class. He made us believe that we too could imitate his carefully honed method of simply applying paint to canvas. This Bob Ross person was creating an atmosphere in which it was impossible not to learn to paint. We responded not just to the instruction, but also to the intense charm of this gentle man. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I'd somehow stumbled across an undiscovered treasure.

After many long discussions with Bob, I realized that we shared a sense of adventure. Bob confided that he had a strong desire to motivate people and introduce them to the joy of accomplishment. I, on the other hand, grew obsessed with sharing Bob's vision. I suggested that I could arrange an early-summer painting seminar near my home in the Washington, D.C. area, independent of any commercial art establishment. He agreed.

WHO IS BOB ROSS

A few days after I returned home from that painting seminar, in February 1982, Bob called and asked if I'd like to meet Bill Alexander. He was making a rare public appearance at a large Chicago Shopping mall, where Bob was to be formally introduced as his successor. The multi-level mall was crammed with thousands of Alexander's fans. They adored him and were in no mood to meet his replacement. After Alexander's brief introduction and an invitation for Bob to paint, the loyal fans starting hissing and booing, begging for more Bill Alexander. As soon as a visibly nervous Bob began one of his spectacular landscapes, I couldn't contain my enthusiasm. With my lone cheering and applauding, I learned how one person can influence an entire crowd. At first only a hesitant few followed, but gradually the thousands of onlookers gave waves of thunderous applause.

After that encouraging experience in Chicago and the prospect of our upcoming teaching activities in Washington, Bob had the impetus to visit his home in Alaska. He finally felt successful enough to face his family and his friends. When I returned home, my husband Walt and I began planning the painting classes we'd hired Bob to teach. Looking back, I admit I had a somewhat inflated opinion of my ability to arrange a painting seminar. But I learned in those first classes the meaning of making people happy. Bob taught me that most students weren't as interested in painting technique as they were in companionship and/or leaving the classroom with a completed painting. Thus, each student was important to Bob. He was very generous with the amount of time he spent with each person. He listened to them and repaired the paintings of discouraged students.

TAKING THE JOY ON THE ROAD

As we expanded our teaching activities to the Baltimore area, Walt once again began laying the groundwork. First we agreed Bob must do public demonstrations in the area to attract students. Bob suggested doing demos in malls, but mall managers weren't excited by the unknown, frizzy-haired artist plopping his ladder-easel in their stuff. But with Walt's persistence, we secured three demos, one in Northern Virginia, one in Washington and one in Baltimore, all to take place in one day. Walt also invested in a television commercial to promote our demos and classes. It showed Bill Alexander passing his "torch" in the guise of his painting knife, and ended with a brief demo by Bob and an invitation to attend his seminars.

VIDEO REVELATION

We stopped in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, en route to Philadelphia. A student who'd been on our last workshop arrived with a video camera in hand. I think he wanted the film of Bob to be his own private tutor at home. Bob was happy to comply. That camera sparked an idea. We got some video equipment and tried making painting videos. As we converted a tiny hotel room into a mini-studio, we had to reassure curious hotel management that we were filming landscape painting techniques, not something tawdry! I think it was in front of that single, hand-held camera in the Holiday Inn that Bob began to hone his famous television personality.

THE DREAM BECOMES A REALITY

We bought commercial time on the number-one rated Phil Donahue television show in Chicago to advertise our upcoming classes, but first we had to "beef up" our commercial's technical quality. While editing our 60-second videotape at the PBS station, WNVC-TV in Northern Virginia, the technical staff became captivated by Bob. Soon others came to see; then came the station manager. Always one to seize an opportunity, Walt persuaded the station to produce an entire series with Bob. They suggested that we begin taping the programs immediately. Thirteen painting projects had to be developed and honed down to 26 minutes. Now Walt had to convince Bob!

THE FIRST "JOY OF PAINTING"

Filming 13 programs was daunting to Bob, to say the least. No one had ever attempted such complex paintings on television in 26 minutes. Painting each one within the allotted time took endless hours of rehearsing and practicing, Bob with his paintbrush, me with my stop watch. But after many "takes" we had our programs ready. We were as proud as new parents, even though the series was technically lacking.

Finally, our dreams were on their way to being realized. Bob was now able to share his "joy of painting" with countless others on the television screen, and I was there to help share it. Even today, more than five years after his death, Bob continues to be television's favorite painter, as he reaches people's homes on nearly 300 stations in the United States and in 10 foreign countries. His dream lives on!

On July 4th 1995, Bob Ross died at age 52 from cancer, leaving us the legacy of creating "little happy mountains, clouds, and trees surrounded by little happy creatures". GOD BLESS BOB!

Today, Annette Kowalski keeps the legacy of Bob alive along with Bob's son, Steve, who is following in his father's footstep as an instructor helping people unlock their creativity.