The naïve idealism of childhood—does it need to disappear? And when shattered, do we have to pick up every piece? Take Bob Ross, for example. Does the rest really matter?

The Original Version

Bob Ross (1942 – 1995), whether he knew it or not, was a part of my life.

Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, to a carpenter and waitress, Ross spent his early adulthood as a military man. But the veteran of the Air Force was moved more by landscapes than defense, and a lifelong interest in painting would ultimately turn into a passion.

Learning from the German Bill Alexander, Ross mastered the wet-on-wet oil painting technique, allowing him to pound out scenic wonders in something like 26 minutes, perfect for a PBS show.

That show would be filmed for 11 years in Muncie, Indiana, and go by the name The Joy of Painting.

And pardon the cheese, but it definitely brought joy.

Above all else, Ross’ mission was to share the delights of art with the country and, thanks to translation, the world. In his mind, everyone was a painter.

Including me.

I spent my childhood beside my grandfather, a brilliant artist in his own right. He would watch me paint along with Ross, careful not to wince as I repeatedly butchered trees, mountains, and clouds. Yet somehow, despite ruining canvas after canvas, the process was game-changing.

Perhaps it was Ross’ soothing voice. Or his eccentric, permed hair. Maybe the beard? Or his ability to seamlessly dole out life advice.

We don’t make mistakes—we just have happy accidents.

Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you’re willing to practice, you can do.

By the time the show went off the air, I was already on to other things, like grunge music and college applications. Wrapped up in my own world, I don’t even remember the news of Ross’ death from lymphoma.

But years later, I do remember the man whose words—delivered with a few brushstrokes—inspired me.

The Rest of the Story

After Ross’ premature death, two factors helped add to the storyline.

The first was the internet.

The second was a company called Bob Ross, Inc.

Thanks to the first, and perhaps the realism of middle age, I now know the following:

• Ross fathered a child in a relationship he had as a teenager.
• He was married three times. The first marriage resulted in another child and ended in divorce due to alleged infidelities. The second ended with the death of his wife from cancer. And the third, crafted to help protect his estate (which, as below, was ravaged nonetheless) ended with his own death.
• He was a smoker.

And that same wellspring of information leads us to Bob Ross, Inc.

In the early 1980s, a woman named Annette Kowalski, reeling from the death of her son, became smitten with Ross. Along with her husband, she was determined to market the then-unknown painter, playing an outsized role in his early success by launching, yes, Bob Ross, Inc.

Along the way, extramarital relations may have entered the mix, though the details are more than a little murky. And, of course, a rift between Ross and his mentor Alexander was all but inevitable.

Regardless, the Kowalskis remained steadfast in their plan to monetize Ross, even after his death. To accomplish their goals, they pursued a series of lawsuits against his estate (i.e. surviving family members).

Over the years, the Kowalski-owned Ross business empire has raked in revenue from things like mugs, T-shirts, bobbleheads, Chia Pets, and so on. A Twitch marathon and active YouTube channel have kept the earnings flowing.

What’s more, the corporation continues to own the vast majority of Ross’ creative work.

A more recent lawsuit filed by a partnership that included Ross’ son Steve which challenged the company’s right to intellectual property was ruled in favor of…the company.

As might be expected, this rest of the story has been a source of fascination, prompting a comprehensive review in The Daily Beast and an admittedly captivating Netflix documentary entitled Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed.

But again, does the rest really matter?

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