Happy Clouds, Happy Trees: The Bob Ross Phenomenon

By Kristin G. Congdon, Doug Blandy and Danny Coeyman

Readers will know Bob Ross (1942-1995) as the gentle, afro'd painter of happy trees on PBS. And while the Florida-born artist is reviled or ignored by the elite art world and scholarly art educators, he continues to be embraced around the globe as a healer and painter, even decades after his death. In Happy Clouds, Happy Trees, the authors thoughtfully explore how the Bob Ross phenomenon grew into a juggernaut.

Although his sincerity in embracing democracy, gift economies, conservation, and self-help may have left him previously denigrated as a subject of rigorous scholarship, this book uses contemporary art theory to explore the sophistication of Bob Ross's vision as an artist. It traces the ways in which his many fans have worshiped, emulated, and parodied him and his work. His technique allowed him to paint over 35,000 paintings in his lifetime, mostly of mountains and trees in landscapes heavily influenced by his time in the Air Force and stationed in Alaska.

The authors address issues of amateur art, sentimentality, imitation, boredom, seduction, and democratic practices in the art world. They fully examine Ross as a painter, teacher, healer, media star, performer, magician, and networker. In-depth comparisons are made to Andy Warhol and Thomas Kinkade, and mention is made of his life in relation to Joseph Beuys, Elvis Presley, St. Francis of Assisi, Carl Rogers, and many other creative personalities. In the end, Happy Clouds, Happy Trees presents Ross as a gift giver, someone who freely teaches the act of painting to anyone who believes in Ross's vision that "this is your world."

• Language: English
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Release date: Apr 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781626740990

Kristin G. Congdon

Kristin G. Congdon is professor emerita in the Philosophy Department at the University of Central Florida, Orlando.

Reviews for Happy Clouds, Happy Trees

[january.gray · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book read like a dull, lengthy history report. One would think a book about a painter would actually show his paintings and perhaps even some personal photographs. There are only two photographs and those are of the authors visiting the grave of Bob Ross. The only "artwork" are pencil sketches the writers of this book, did of their own heads.I wanted to learn more about Bob Ross the man and painter, not theory on art. I admire art in all it's forms, but this book totally missed the mark. This book did not even mention how his son was the one instrumental in the making of his show.Watch the PBS special or Google Bob Ross. It will be much more entertaining and not a total waste of your time.I received this book on behalf of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[zzshupinga · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

ARC provided by NetGalleyMany self taught artists in the 80’s and 90’s all had the same teacher. He could be found by turning on the local PBS station, was always smiling, and a huge afro and was painting happy little trees. His name, was Bob Ross. And while the “scholarly” art world tends to ignore him or call him a hack or other degrading terms , Bob Ross challenged our notions of what it means to paint and how to teach it.Not written as a biography, but more of a look at the impact that Bob Ross has had on the painting and teaching...and business world, the authors still manage to capture the essence of the man that many came to know and love on TV for his phrases, such as “Let’s paint a happy little tree. Just right here. Happy little tree going in.” While the scholarly world may decry that Ross wasn’t a “real” painter, his technique and abilities allowed him to paint over 35,000 paintings in his short life time. The authors compare Ross to Warhol, Kinkade, and others, but make sure to emphasize that Ross stands alone as someone that encouraged painting and to make it fun.Growing up I remember watching Bob Ross and early on I would change it with disgust, because how could this afro haired dude be painting? And how could you have happy trees? But as I got more into my own art, I started watching him and seeing the joy that he had, that he wanted to share with other people, and that he wanted to make painting fun. It didn’t need to be “high class art” or whatever some of the lunatics at museums want to call it...it was something to capture how you felt and what you saw. Though I don’t do much painting anymore, I still try to have that fun in my work. I still try to remember to draw happy little trees and happy little clouds. And hope that maybe one day, the art world will recognize Bob Ross for the genius, and happy person, that he was. 4 out of 5 stars.