Bob Ross
Bob Ross is one of my artistic influences – who knew?
The other day I was flipping channels and came upon Bob Ross halfway through a painting – a seascape with an oval frisket. I knew I had seen this one before but I still stopped to watch. There is something utterly fascinating about watching Bob do his stuff.
Mesmerizing, in fact.
As a child I marveled at how he could make something out of nothing. Even if the something was more motel art than fine art, he still made a tree look like a tree and could create a mountain scene in half an hour.
As I sat watching the waves appear on his canvas with a number two filbert, I had a revelation. Bob Ross had influenced my artistic self. It was a bit of a shock. As I watched him make things appear from nowhere, I saw myself. I saw my own paintings and how I make something out of nothing.
Now, I don’t think my paintings look anything like Bob’s, at least I hope not. And I never took his course or was inspired to paint like him, or even picked up a brush because of him. I always though his paintings cheesy and did not like the final product. But to watch him was delightful and still is.
However, I think perhaps watching him all those years ago stuck in my mind somehow. Those ‘happy little accidents’ often happen to me when I am painting. Something unintentional becomes my favorite part of the painting. Bob had insinuated himself into my artistic life without my even knowing it. Thanks Bob!
