Bob Ross

Hello there. My name is Bob Ross, and I believe everyone has a little artist hiding inside them. You might know me as the man with the big, happy hair who painted happy little trees on television. But my story started long before that, in the sunny state of Florida, where I was born on October 29th, 1942. Growing up, I wasn't surrounded by snowy mountains, but by warm sunshine, tall palm trees, and lots of amazing animals. I spent my days exploring the outdoors and making friends with creatures that others might have been afraid of. I had pet squirrels, raccoons, and even an alligator that lived in our bathtub for a while. Taking care of them taught me to be gentle and patient, and to see the beauty in every living thing, no matter how small. When I wasn't with my animal friends, I was often helping my father, Jack Ross. He was a carpenter, and he taught me how to build things with my hands. I loved working with him, but one day, while using a saw, I had an accident and lost part of my left index finger. It might sound scary, but it taught me a valuable lesson very early on: sometimes things happen that we don't plan for, but that doesn't mean it's a disaster. It just becomes a part of who you are, and you learn to work with it. That little accident never stopped me from holding a paintbrush later on.

When I turned 18 years old, I decided to join the United States Air Force. It was a big change from my quiet life in Florida. The Air Force sent me all the way to Alaska. When I first stepped off the plane, I was speechless. I had never seen anything like it. There were enormous, powerful mountains covered in a thick blanket of pure white snow. The trees stood tall and silent, and the air was so cold and crisp it felt like magic. I fell in love with Alaska's wild beauty, and it was there that I first picked up a paintbrush to try and capture the incredible landscapes around me. My job in the Air Force was to be a master sergeant. That meant I had to be tough, make difficult decisions, and sometimes, I had to raise my voice to make sure orders were followed. People called me 'Bust 'em up Bobby.' But that loud, strict person wasn't the real me. On the inside, I was still that quiet boy from Florida who loved gentle animals and peaceful forests. So, during my lunch breaks, I would find a quiet spot and paint. It was my escape. It was where I could be myself. During this time, I saw a painter on TV named Bill Alexander who used a special technique called 'wet-on-wet.' This style allowed him to finish a beautiful, detailed painting in just thirty minutes. I was fascinated and knew I had to learn it. It changed my whole world.

After 20 years of service, I decided to leave the Air Force. The day I left, I made a promise to myself: I would never yell again. The part of my life that required me to be loud and tough was over. Now, I wanted to spend my time sharing the gentle, quiet peace I found in painting. I started teaching art classes, showing people the 'wet-on-wet' technique I had learned. I wanted to prove that anyone could create a masterpiece. You didn't need to be born with special talent. All you needed was a dream in your heart and a little bit of courage. My classes became so popular that someone suggested I should have my own television show. And so, on January 11th, 1983, the very first episode of 'The Joy of Painting' appeared on TV. On my show, I didn't just teach people how to paint a mountain or a cloud. I taught them that there are no mistakes, only 'happy accidents.' If a line went the wrong way or a color wasn't quite right, we wouldn't get upset. We would just turn it into a happy little tree, or a fluffy cloud, or a beautiful new part of our world. I wanted everyone watching to feel calm, happy, and confident that they could create anything they wanted on their canvas.

For over a decade, I invited people into my world of painting. My show was seen all across the globe, and I received letters from people everywhere telling me how my soft voice and happy little trees brought them peace and joy. It meant the world to me to know that I was helping people find the artist inside themselves. Sadly, in 1994, I became very sick and had to stop filming new episodes of my show. My journey on this earth ended on July 4th, 1995, but I believe my work is far from over. I hope that when you see one of my paintings or hear my voice, you remember the most important lesson I tried to share. You have the power to create your own beautiful world, both on a canvas and in your life. Don't be afraid to try something new, and remember that even if you make a mistake, it might just be a happy accident leading you to something wonderful. Everyone can paint their own happy little trees.