Amazing show. Anytime I need cheering up or just want to relax, I can turn it on and enjoy time with Bob. He's so encouraging and positive. His paintings looks amazing, even though I've never tried sitting down with oil paints and attempting them myself.

There's a cynical part of me deep down that knows that Bob Ross is a purveyor of kitsch; and if you watch enough episodes of "The Joy of Painting" there's a repetition that emerges. But here's the thing: I'm not buying his work, I'm watching it happen - and that's precisely where the appeal lies.He starts out telling us what we're going to paint today, and it takes a bit to see it on the canvas. One plane of color is layered over another until it's suddenly a landscape. It's his technique that sells this; the way he scrapes in a cloud or a mountain with his palette knife or dots in some fir trees with his fan brush. This blew my mind as a kid - these methods would never have occurred to me when painting trees, mountains, what-have-you, and it's still enjoyable as an adult.What I really like about this is his attitude. It's not just folksy expressions, but the idea that this is fun, it's spontaneous and (most importantly) that we're painting this together. That sense of inclusion is gratifying, even if I'm not actually painting along with him. His is such a likable personality, just a laid back approachable presence.It's very easy to get lost in his brush strokes; there's a serious hypnotic quality to this show. It doesn't matter what Ross is painting because it's always fun to watch.And I would totally buy his work.8/10

Public television is usually loaded up with Public access programming and educational shows...you know, boring stuff that usually gets maybe 1,000 viewers per taping, and prank call video posts on Youtube 10 years later. The kind of stuff you'd watch on Sunday afternoon.Enter Bob Ross, a former member of the U.S. Army stationed in Alaska who began a TV series where he would paint a picture for one half hour while educating his viewers on how to do paintings like him. At first glance, one would think that a show like that couldn't last a season. 31 seasons aired over the course of 11 years. Why? It's all the little things that made Ross's program so entertaining. First of all, just look at the guy. He's enjoying himself the whole time. There is not one moment on his show where he's just wanting the show to end so he can go home. He really enjoyed what he did.Second, there's his image. While he hated his afro, the only reason he had it was to save money on cutting his hair. But the afro became part of his iconic image, particularly on the painting materials he sold with his name on them.Third, the guy's voice. It's as calm as a majority of the pictures he painted. Many of Ross's Viewers claimed his voice could quite often put them to sleep, and not in a bad way.Fourth, All the fun things Ross would say. He coined a lot of phrases that his viewers love to quote. For example, 'We don't make mistakes, we just have happy accidents.' and 'Beat the devil out of it!' and a few other things that were just so entertaining.Finally, watching a blank canvas become a masterpiece in one half-hour. There's something truly magical about it.Sadly, Ross could not continue his show after 1994, as he had contracted illness from exposure to chemicals in paint thinner. the next year, Ross passed away because of it. But he left behind a great legacy, and to this day, people still enjoy the joy of painting on youtube.God bless, and happy painting!

Bob is a good teacher, i have always loved this show growing up, and it's great to catch an episode on PBS when it comes on. His methods are made simple, and when watching, you will see a beautiful painting made right in front of you. Sometimes you'll be watching, and you'll think "man, that looks weird" and then he does 1 or 2 brush strokes, and instantly it's the coolest thing you've ever seen... it's really too weird. If you've never seen the show, i would suggest that you look for it on your local access or PBS channel. If they don't have it, do as Bob always suggest and "request" that they air the show..... Just beat the devil out of it!! :D