# I want to take a Bob Ross class **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413 "2014-12-05T15:13:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/1 "2014-12-05T15:13:46Z")
I see that in 2015 - which is coming right up! - there will be some in my new home town. I always loved his TV show and the thought of being able to have my own world where I decide where the Happy Trees go - well, it’s exciting. anyone out there take one? I can’t see a downside, except it’s not free but I’m going to love it so that’s OK. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/2 "2014-12-05T15:28:56Z")
Many years ago I took a class in the [Bill Alexander](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Alexander_%28artist%29) wet-on-wet technique (which is what Ross uses). It was the first time I ever picked up a paint brush that wasn’t intended for home improvement. I was very pleased with the outcome and others seemed to like it as well. The interesting part of it to me was how a person could use large brushes and brush strokes and create something in an hour or a few that looks like it took much longer. There’s no downside to it: you won’t create a masterpiece using this method, but you’ll learn paint mixing and blending techniques. Just remember not to overwork it or you’ll end up with a blurry mess. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/3 "2014-12-05T15:36:10Z")
You won’t get to meet Bob Ross. Other than that, sounds awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/4 "2014-12-05T16:01:20Z")
Maybe the price includes a seance. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/5 "2014-12-05T16:20:12Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Maybe the price includes a seance. If the seance contacted Jackson Pollack instead, I guess that would be a mistake, not a “happy accident”! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/6 "2014-12-05T16:38:46Z")
No Bob Ross thread is complete without a link to [Happy Little Clouds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLO7tCdBVrA). ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/7 "2014-12-05T17:26:10Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > No Bob Ross thread is complete without a link to [Happy Little Clouds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLO7tCdBVrA). [The land of happy little trees](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuGaV-BvPlE) Needs a spaceman… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/8 "2014-12-05T17:30:13Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > You won’t get to meet Bob Ross. But if you put in the time and effort, really practice and study and work on your craft…no matter who you are or how good you were to begin with, you’ll end up just like him. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/9 "2014-12-05T18:36:04Z")
Don’t forget to give your Happy Tree some little friends! ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/10 "2014-12-05T18:45:48Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > I see that in 2015 - which is coming right up! - there will be some in my new home town. I always loved his TV show and the thought of being able to have my own world where I decide where the Happy Trees go - well, it’s exciting. > > anyone out there take one? I can’t see a downside, except it’s not free but I’m going to love it so that’s OK. A good friend of mine just took one. He’s in his 60s (possibly early 70s? he’s been retired for a while). He had never painted a day in his life before this class. I’ve seen two or three of his works since the class, and well, they’re AMAZING! He has one framed and hanging over his mantle! Either this guy should have been an artist his entire life, or the class really works. If you take it, I hope you post back here with your thoughts on it; and maybe a link to some of your works! ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/11 "2014-12-05T19:17:52Z")
My wife took one maybe 12-13 years ago and really enjoyed it. She didn’t continue painting after the class, but we have two of the paintings she did hanging in our house, and her brother has one or two that she did at the time. Her paintings turned out pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/12 "2014-12-06T00:57:13Z")
people have nothing but good stuff to say - that’s nice. I think he developed a technique that is very easy, can’t wait to try it. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/13 "2014-12-06T02:02:15Z")
Prepare to laugh! [link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ovpLXHMSqI). NSFW - but it is only audio. BTW [he was a former sergeant in the USAF](http://www.cracked.com/article_20442_5-celebrities-you-wont-believe-were-badass-soldiers.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/14 "2014-12-06T02:32:09Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > people have nothing but good stuff to say - that’s nice. I think he developed a technique that is very easy, can’t wait to try it. He didn’t develop the technique. See the link in post #2. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/15 "2014-12-06T02:44:49Z")
so that’s where Bob got “your almighty brush”, from William Alexander! and he WAS, he was doing the anti-Alexander which his tone. sheesh! thanks, D18 Chefguy, sorry - but he made it wildly popular, I think. [Bob Ross vs Pablo Picasso](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGN5xaQkFk0&app=desktop) - Epic Rap Battles of History Season 3. this is mildly interesting ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-take-a-bob-ross-class/706413/16 "2014-12-06T03:09:26Z")
Another avenue you can take if you want to learn some art quickly is Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. It is nothing short of miraculous. The difference between her and Bob Ross is, Bob Ross will teach you to paint _a_ tree; Betty Edwards will teach you to draw _that_ tree. Now whether Betty’s are as happy as Bob’s, well, that’s another story.