"We don't make mistakes here, we just have happy accidents. We want happy, happy paintings. If you want sad things, watch the news. Everything is possible here. This is your little universe." With his calm, patient demeanor, Bob Ross (1942 – 1995) rose to prominence as the creator and host of The Joy of Painting, a television program that ran for twelve years in the United States. He parlayed this success into a commercial "Bob Ross" brand: an industry of how-to art books, instructional videos and art supplies.
Ross had a son, Steven, who occasionally appeared on The Joy of Painting and is a Bob Ross certified instructor. There are more than 1500 Bob Ross certified instructors holding workshops throughout the United States every day. You can become a Bob Ross certified instructor yourself. No previous painting or teaching experience is required but you and your students paintings may tend to look like Bob Ross's.
Ross also filmed wildlife footage, squirrels in particular, usually from his own garden. Small animals often appeared on The Joy of Painting as he would often take in injured or abandoned squirrels and other assorted wildlife.
