[October 29th would have been the iconic Bob Ross’ 80th birthday. So this week I’ll AmericanStudy Ross and four other figures who have helped make PBS the cultural and educational force it is!]
On two
influences on and one legacy of the artistic icon (beyond the
hair and the phrase “happy
little trees,” natch).
1)
Alaska: Ross was only 16 when he enlisted
in the Air Force in 1961, and he’d spend the next twenty years in the
service, working as a medical records technician (and eventually master
sergeant) stationed at Eielson Air Force
Base near Fairbanks, Alaska. I’m sure the Air Force had plenty of
influences on the rest of Ross’ life and work and could have been an “A” entry
in this list instead, but it seems to me that the stunning Alaskan landscapes,
which in my experience are truly unique across all of America, loomed even larger in
the paintings and artistic worlds for which Ross would become so well-known. Yet
as always with artistic works, Ross’ paintings were a representation of and perspective
on that subject, rather than the subject itself—for example, I’d say that
Alaskan landscapes can be quite intimidating, especially in their reminder of
our human smallness in the face of a wider world that doesn’t
have much concern for or about us (nor should it); yet for Ross they were
indeed filled with happy trees and other reflections of a peaceful and positive world,
a reflection of his unique perspective and voice that were so instrumental in
making him the icon he became.
2)
Alexander: I have to believe that perspective
and voice were very much Ross’ own, but both his artistic style and his TV
presence were greatly influenced by another painter, the German American artist
Bill
Alexander. Alexander’s TV show The Magic of Oil Painting
(1974-82) was an early and influential use of television to teach painting
and art, and both the show overall and in particular Alexander’s “wet-on-wet” technique,
which allowed him to create full paintings in about half an hour, were direct
inspirations for Ross’ artistic and TV careers alike. So much so, in fact, that
when Ross retired from the Air Force in 1981 he moved to Florida, studied with
Alexander, and became a traveling salesman and tutor for his Alexander Magic Art Supplies Company. The
two men eventually had
a falling out over such familiar issues as a student surpassing a teacher
and whether due respect was paid to the latter, and I would argue that
Alexander and his show should be as well-known as Ross’. But in any case, there’s
no Bob Ross without Bill Alexander.
3)
Art for All: That’s all part of how we should
remember and tell the story of this iconic artist and PBS host. But to my mind,
the simplest and most important part of that story is this: the transformation
of art and painting from elite cultural products of talented individuals to
work that anyone and everyone could create. I’m not suggesting for a moment
that there aren’t particularly talented individual painters—I’ve had the chance
to know some hugely talented professional painters and visual artists, including
my aunt, and they had both skills and careers that reflect the medium as a
serious artistic form. But I would say very much the same thing about painting
that I’d say about writing: while levels of skill and talent can and will vary,
everyone who wants to do it should do it, and should share what they do with
all of us to add their voices and work to the conversation. That might seem
like a truism, but I don’t know that it was before Bob Ross (and, yes, Bill
Alexander among others I’m sure), and that’s a pretty darn important legacy to
celebrate on his birthday.
Next PBS
person tomorrow,
Ben
PS. What
do you think? Other PBS people or shows you’d highlight?
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