Currently watching Joy Of Painting and completely enthralled, it feels like magic

Posted by AerwynFlynn@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 23 comments

And yet as a kid I hated it. I didn’t want to sit and watch someone paint! I wanted more action! But now, after a long day of chasing a 2 year old around I just want something easy going, something where I feel that sense of wonder again. Doesn’t matter how many mountains he makes. Or happy little trees, each one is fascinating.

Has anyone else found new appreciation for things they would have hated as a kid? What is it?

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Fr4gd0ll@reddit

I use it to put me to also his voice is so soothing

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GeetarEnthusiast85@reddit

I loved watching Bob Ross even when I was a kid. I always found him soothing and it seemed like magic how he was able to create such magnificent sights in under 30 minutes.

My parents wouldn't let me use oil paints so I'd try to recreate his work with water colors lol. I'd even (poorly) use a butter knife for scraping, etc.

I still watch reruns now, especially if I'm having trouble sleeping. His show is so relaxing.

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elkniodaphs@reddit

Bob Ross, Nova, and Masterpiece Theater for me. One thing I loved about Bob Ross was the wild stroke he'd put in the painting near the end of the episode. He'd have a gorgeous painting then suddenly put a black streak through it with 2 minutes left in the show. A minute and a half later, that black streak was a beautiful tree in the foreground. Yeah, that was like magic to me.

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GeetarEnthusiast85@reddit

Oh, see this little black spot? Why don't we take some phthalo blue, mix it with a little titanium white and turn it into a rock. Now we have a new friend.

You know what this picture needs? I think it needs a brook running down the canvas here. We just our brush and go "veeeuuum." There, now isn't nice?

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red286@reddit

The guys who came after Bob aren't quite as good. I appreciate that they're carrying on his legacy, but they aren't nearly as good in front of the camera, especially in regards to not making it SUPER obvious that they're painting from reference. It's tough to catch Bob glancing at the reference work, whereas the new guys, they'll very obviously keep looking over to it, and in some shots the reference painting is sitting in-frame.

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lazyMarthaStewart@reddit

Oh, I loved it as a teen. My parents thought/ knew I was weird. But it was relaxing. Like watching Mr Rogers for grown ups.

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AerwynFlynn@reddit (OP)

Mr. Rogers is still super relaxing as an adult lol. Really speaks to that inner child. It’s my daughters wind down for bed show

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Blazenkks@reddit

There was a Bob Ross Twitch channel with like 1600+ people in the chat that was pretty funny. Someone young would come in and ask “why doesn’t he ever talk chat” or “does he do commissions?” 🤣 There were different bot counters for stuff he’d say like “beat the devil out of it” rinsing a brush and drying it out.

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hamburgler26@reddit

We definitely watched this a lot growing up. The way he'd just do a little flick with the brush and instantly create trees and all of these simple little details that brought the scene to life always astonished me.

I also really appreciated how if he made a "mistake" he'd just work with it, taught me that sometimes accidents can turn into a good thing. And even if not, no big deal and chances are you'll be the only one who notices it.

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EnoughMeow@reddit

Yeah, I appreciate my parents now.

Growing up sucked but at least they admit that it sucked and I don’t need therapy to recreate that.

So OP, parenting sucks, and you’re gonna be wrong, but remember to be emotionally invested and empathize with the kid and always be open to apology.

Remember “No mistakes, only happy accidents” ;)

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AerwynFlynn@reddit (OP)

Thank you for this 💜. I’ve definitely had to apologize a few times when I’ve not been at my best, and I do tend to beat myself up over not being the best. It’s good to be reminded that the best you can do is just show up and try

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EnoughMeow@reddit

Raaaaaamen to that

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Guitargirl81@reddit

Happy Little Trees!

This was totally our happy place when our youngest was an infant. It's so simple, endearing, and relaxing.

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sarcasmo818@reddit

I'd never watched that show until recently and every time he cleans the brush and giggles, I giggle too.

Also pretty stunning things he can do in a half hour!

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AerwynFlynn@reddit (OP)

Right? My brain is like “there’s no way that only took 20 minutes….” But I watched it happen! Lol