Bob Ross was born in Daytona Beach, Florida on October 29, 1942, the son of a carpenter. Beginning his 20-year career with the U.S. Air Force at the age of eighteen, Bob nurtured his love of painting. Stationed often in Alaska, the striking mountain landscapes had a lasting influence on his art. No matter how rigorous his Air Force duties became, Bob devoted time to studying privately with some of the country's top art instructors, as well as attending art classes at several colleges and universities.

"Painting is imagination that you can see."  

He became a grandmaster oil painter, studying for a time with William Alexander. But Bob Ross also perfected the finer, more respectable arts of patience and kindness. His quiet, nurturing disposition was a form of therapy to the weary, and the reassuring intonations of his gentle voice hypnotized entire generations of his TV audience. Bob's life-long love of animals began with his Florida childhood where he made pets of armadillos and alligators. His TV series often provided him with an opportunity to introduce little rescued "rascals" including owls, robins and his own "pocket" squirrels.

For eleven years, he was the host of The Joy of Painting, perhaps the most recognized, most watched art program in the history of American television. With a bushy afro and a calm, soothing voice, Bob Ross taught viewers to paint "happy little trees" and "pretty little mountains". He is credited with popularizing the Wet-on-Wet oil painting technique which is the application of wet paint on top of wet paint, omitting the traditional waiting period for each layer to dry.

"There are no mistakes, only happy accidents"    

Even though Bob passed away on July 4th, 1995 - at the age of 52, the result of prostate cancer/lymphoma - his show is still being broadcast by literally hundreds of TV stations in many countries worldwide and popularity of his painting style continues to grow.

Mr. Ross' wife, Jane, died in 1993. He is survived by his son Steve who is a Certified Bob Ross instructor and occasionally appeared on his father's program. 

"On this piece of canvas, you can do anything you can imagine .... this is your world."