Photos Of Bob Ross's Son Steve Blew Us Away

Jul 01, 2022 by apost team

American painter, Bob Ross, is a beloved artist turned TV personality who rose to fame while hosting his series, "The Joy of Painting." The instructional program began in the mid- 80s and aired for over a decade, inspiring countless viewers to pick up their own paintbrushes. More than a patron of the arts, Ross also exuded an unwavering, infectious positivity during his program, which further endeared him to audience members everywhere. Ross quickly became synonymous with not just oil painting but also joy. 

Prior to leading this life on-screen, Ross had been in the US military, having enlisted in the Air Force at eighteen. Ross also married young, and the newlyweds relocated with their newborn son, Steve, to Alaska. Ross had been stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks. Having grown up in Florida, he was more accustomed to armadillos and alligators, not snow drifts and ice. But Ross would go on to draw great inspiration from the natural beauty he saw while stationed in the far north. 

Ross is perhaps best known for his landscape paintings, which feature towering pines, tangles of brambles, and jagged mountain peaks rising into a distant, rosy sky. In painting, Ross often drew from his time in Alaska. The family lived  there until relocating back South to begin filming "The Joy of Painting."

The artworks Ross crafted before his viewer's very eyes were of remote wildernesses. However, there was never any foreboding in Ross' landscapes. Rather, there was always a softness to his scenes, which he touched upon in his narration, always mentioning befriended branches and "happy trees." 

As an artist, Ross was also inspired by the German painter William "Bill" Alexander, who hosted the series "The Magic of Oil Painting" in the mid-70s. Both men specialized in a particular wet-on-wet technique of painting, which allowed artists to complete works in minutes as opposed to weeks or days. 

"The proper name for it is 'alla prima'-- the first attempt," explained Julia Friedman, an art historian, in Netflix's "Happy Accidents." The documentary, which was released in 2021, outlines Ross' career. It was Alexander who inspired Ross to hone this method. 

Recalling the moment he met his kindred spirit, Ross said:

"I saw Alexander on television and, like millions of other people, I fell in love with him."

After connecting, Ross began working with the painter. "I studied with Bill, and when I retired from the military, they offered me a position with the Magic Art Company as a traveling art instructor," Ross explained. 

In this role, Ross embarked on road trips, selling art supplies and setting up his easel wherever there was an audience. This life on the road meant Steve was left at home with Ross' second wife, Jane. But, the exposure his classes brought Ross would ultimately lead to the creation of his show.

One couple, the Kowalski's, offered to promote Ross' work. In turn, they would share the profits. Annette Kowalski saw potential in the band and encouraged Ross to embrace television, telling him, "I don't know what you've got but I think we ought to bottle it and sell it." 

apost.com

The series brought Ross home and off the road. In retrospect, Steve Ross said of the partnership, "They gave him his new career. His new life really." The business relationship would eventually sour and rupture due to disputes over Ross' rights and the use of his image after his death in 1995. But before those legal battles, Ross enjoyed years as the face of painting on public television. 

During the 1983 pilot of "The Joy of Painting," Ross, in a gentle tone that he would become known for, said, "We start with a vision in our heart, and we put it on canvas." This was, in essence, what Ross did during hundreds of episodes. He calmly explained the steps it took to make mountains, standing in stark comparison to his former militant self. 

By the end of that first season, Steve was old enough to join his father on-screen. Then seventeen, Steve had become an accomplished painter himself. During his debut episode, the younger Ross expertly asked his father questions about his process and technique. The Q&A proved to be a winning combination, earning Steve a spot in forthcoming episodes.  

However, perhaps Steve's biggest contribution to the Ross dynasty was his teaching. He became a Certified Bob Ross Instructor (CRI) and traveled, much like his father did, helping the public learn to paint. The younger Ross would feature in other "Joy of Painting" episodes, with audience members watching as the young man grew into a flourishing artist befitting of carrying on the Ross name. 

What was your favorite "Joy of Painting" moment? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, and fellow Bob Ross fans!