PBS had lightning in a bottle with the show “The Joy of Painting,” hosted by the beloved Bob Ross. In each episode, Ross’ perpetually calm voice would walk viewers through how to create various paintings. Despite his passing from cancer in 1995, his legacy lives on through the 31 seasons of the show.
PBS is reviving the series with “The Joy of Painting with Nicholas Hankins: Bob Ross’ Unfinished Season.”
Towards the end of Ross’ life, he somehow fought through enough to create seven paintings to use in season 32 of “The Joy of Painting.” “He was so sick, but he was still working on his next series because he wanted to be able to keep going,” Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., said. Joan is the daughter of Annette and Walt Kowalski who co-founded the company with Ross.
The Paintings
These paintings have been stashed away for almost three decades. That is until certified Bob Ross instructor Nicholas Hankins came along. Hankins has studied these seven paintings and creates them from scratch on camera in “The Joy of Painting.” PBS recently started airing episodes in some markets on American Public Television. Other episodes are also available on PBS’ website.
“I think that Bob would be incredibly proud of how we’re doing this,” says Kowalski. “There aren’t really many things that come our way where we have to wonder, what should we do? Bob was very specific in how he wanted this whole thing to go into the future.”
The opportunity to “take these paintings and do what Bob ultimately wanted done with them, (to) have them out in the world making people happy is gratifying” said Hankins. The artist uses six of his paintings in the new season of “Joy of Painting.”
Hankins’ Take
Hankins has already created teaching videos posted to the Bob Ross YouTube channel. Some of his videos have drawn over 300,000 views. “People notice that Nick is not at all trying to be Bob, and he’s delivering naturally as himself and yet there’s still that same sort of feeling you get watching Bob,” Kowalski explains.
In an increasingly digital world, Hankins would like to be a reprieve from how nonstop everything can feel. “I hope I can carry that part of the legacy on,” he said. “I want to genuinely create an environment where people are going to come in, take half an hour and just turn off the world. Right now is a time we need it.”
Like Ross, he doesn’t even mind if you don’t paint along. Not everyone can afford basic materials like oil paints, an easel, canvas, and brushes. “But if they’re just watching all they need is a tall glass of iced tea,” he said. “That was Bob’s thing, get some iced tea and kick back and watch.”
You can check out some of “The Joy of Painting with Nicholas Hankins: Bob Ross’ Unfinished Season” here. And always remember to embrace your happy little accidents.
