# What was that painter guys' name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018 "2010-12-05T07:20:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/1 "2010-12-05T07:20:51Z")
In the late 80s / early 90s era of cable TV, one of the most popular (at least, one of the most referenced shows) was this show about painting. It was literally nothing more than a camera trained on this old hippie dude painter (with a huge afro) who painted these sedate landscape pictures. He would begin the show with a blank canvas, and just simply paint a picture in 30 minutes, while talking the viewing audience through it step by step. He was always very cheerful & upbeat, yet strangely sedate & soothing at the same time. It became kind of a catch-phrase / joke how he would talk about adding "just a _dab_ of paint here, another little _dab_ of paint there - dab, dab, dab! It was this strangely mesmerizing show everybody alive seemed to know about. He came up in a conversation this evening, and I cannot for the life of me recall his name. Of course everybody I was having dinner with instantly knew who I was talking about when I mentioned him saying “Just a little dab of paint here…” Who was he again? I know he died about ten years ago. But what was his name again? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/2 "2010-12-05T07:22:21Z")
Bob Ross ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/3 "2010-12-05T08:32:56Z")
“Here’s a happy little tree in the forest - maybe your tree is over by the lake!” God the 80s had some weird TV. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/4 "2010-12-05T08:37:26Z")
I have my DVR set to record his show in reruns on the local PBS station. Comes on every Saturday morning. “There are no mistakes, only happy accidents!” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/5 "2010-12-05T15:33:38Z")
Stoner though he seemed, he always had the painting finished in exactly 30 minutes. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/6 "2010-12-05T15:49:48Z")
I knew exactly what this was going to be about the instant I saw the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/7 "2010-12-05T15:50:13Z")
My late husband spent a LOT of time in the hospital and we loved to watch Bob Ross in the hospital room. Yeah, we’d make fun of him… “happy little tree, happy little rock, happy little mountain…” He was fascinating to watch. The paintings certainly resembled each other a lot. I will always associate him with those days. May he rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/8 "2010-12-05T15:51:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Stoner though he seemed, he always had the painting finished in exactly 30 minutes. 😉 Did he use EVLO (that’s Extra Extra Virgin Linseed Oil)? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/9 "2010-12-05T15:59:20Z")
Daggonit, I thought this was going to be a thread about the name of Murphy Brown’s perpetual painter! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/10 "2010-12-05T16:01:34Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Daggonit, I thought this was going to be a thread about the name of Murphy Brown’s perpetual painter! Eldon or something, right? I find Bob Ross hypnotically soothing. He kinda puts me into a trance. ---
**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, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/11 "2010-12-05T16:22:22Z")
FYI, his technique was pretty much invented by Bill Alexander, and Ross was probably a student of his. Alexander used a wet technique with large brushes and broad strokes that was fast and effective. I took a class in his method, and it’s amazing how fast you can turn out a painting that looks like it took you much longer. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/12 "2010-12-05T16:26:24Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Eldon or something, right? [Murphy Brown’s painter] I loved that guy. He was a great nanny to her baby. I understand the actor ran afoul of the law- drugs or something. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Meme\_Chose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Meme\_Chose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meme_Chose)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/13 "2010-12-05T17:09:41Z")
I loved watching Bill Alexander, especially when he HEEPnotized the canvas. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/14 "2010-12-05T19:02:42Z")
I grew up on [Jon Gnagy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uucqLtJIxQ), who taught that all art involved drawing four shapes: cube, cone, sphere, and cylinder. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/15 "2010-12-05T19:21:07Z")
“And why don’t we put another tree right next it? Because everyone needs a friend.” ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/16 "2010-12-05T19:30:58Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I loved that guy. He was a great nanny to her baby. I understand the actor ran afoul of the law- drugs or something. > > Carry on. I think that he shot himself, and possibly his girlfriend too (murder/suicide?) a few years back, seemingly drug related… Pretty sad. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/17 "2010-12-05T19:42:17Z")
No, just a [heroin overdose.](http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=38681) Which is considerably less creepy. Robert Pastorelli of _Murphy Brown_, not Bob Ross of _The Joy of Painting._ Bob Ross died of lymphoma. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/18 "2010-12-05T19:43:29Z")
According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ross), although Bob Ross seemed like a big hippie he actually spent a decade in the military. He disliked having to play the tough guy and decided that once he left the military he’d never yell at anyone again. I remember hearing years ago that he’d actually been a drill sergeant, but the Wikipedia article doesn’t make this claim and I suspect it was an exaggeration by whoever I heard that from. It is funny to imagine a drill sergeant with the same manner of speaking used by Bob Ross on his show, though. “Why don’t you drop and give me twenty? That’s right, some happy little pushups. Up and down…” ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/19 "2010-12-05T19:44:22Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > No, just a [heroin overdose.](http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=38681) Which is considerably less creepy. > > Robert Pastorelli of _Murphy Brown_, not Bob Ross of _The Joy of Painting._ > > Bob Ross died of lymphoma. I am sorry; I was obviously mistaken and must be thinking of someone else… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018/20 "2010-12-05T19:57:41Z")
[I have been offered money for this tshirt every time I wear it.](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3077029443_8ee8fc3156.jpg&imgrefurl=http://baldguyinatshirt.blogspot.com/2008/11/bob-ross.html&h=400&w=500&sz=169&tbnid=0P2B8-ZP5mZQJM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbob%2Bross%2Btshirt&zoom=1&q=bob+ross+tshirt&hl=en&usg=__sbvZgf2rHgCTiwqwxBk7EmLlxKY=&sa=X&ei=Ku77TKeYAefpnQeXzKTICg&ved=0CEAQ9QEwBw) That isn’t me. [Boo Ross Tat](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.zhippo.com/StudioOneTattooHOSTED/images/gallery/medium%252FBob_Ross_Tattoo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.shaneoneilltattoos.com/tattoos/tattoos_35399.html&h=450&w=311&sz=47&tbnid=M-7mrO1cCU0wUM:&tbnh=270&tbnw=187&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbob%2Bross%2Btattoo&zoom=1&q=bob+ross+tattoo&hl=en&usg=__V4ydkj1A8Zvl2bKXqUJuARtZ8tI=&sa=X&ei=ee77TOnLAYu6sQPNieX3DQ&sqi=2&ved=0CB4Q9QEwAA) It’s quite excellent. Bob Ross is a GOD. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-that-painter-guys-name/563018.md?page=2)