Bob Ross Art for Grief

I have another incredibly easy way you can use art for grief. Actually, not just grief but anxiety, depression, sadness – anything that is making you in desperate need for calm and relaxation. I could never make a site like this without mentioning the painter, Bob Ross. Even though he died back in 1995, he is still immensely popular with many people around the world. And he continues to be discovered as time goes on by those who weren’t born yet when his show, The Joy of Painting, was airing on television in the 80’s and 90’s. If you decide that ultimately, you could never do any form of art for grief, then at the very minimum, I beg you to grab a cozy chair, sit down with your favorite beverage, and just listen and watch Bob Ross paint.

To many people, he’s often viewed as the guy with the afro who paints on television. And to many people in the fine art world, he’s not viewed as a “real artist” (whatever that really means). But Bob Ross is more than just art. He has a way of presenting art as therapy without actually saying that. It’s just the effect he has on people. He also makes painting look so fun and simple that it makes you want to try. But most of all, he somehow makes anyone, no matter how ordinary they might feel, feel seen and heard and validated as a human being struggling to find some sense and beauty in this chaotic world.

And that’s why if you do nothing else art related (or even if you do!), I would highly recommend Bob Ross art as one of those small ways of coping with grief.

You can find recordings of all his shows here on YouTube.

He Makes You Feel Loved, At Peace & A Little Less Lonely

It’s the voice that pulls you in. Bob Ross has one of those voices that just sounds like a beautiful, calm spring day with a slight breeze to it. And this is perfect because the kind of paintings he does are landscapes. Apparently, he used to be in the Air Force and he complained that he was tired of screaming at people and being a mean, tough guy. He said whenever he got out, he was not going to use that kind of voice ever again. Well, if you listen to him, you will get absolutely no hint that he had the background of a shouting military man.

A pure, wholesome, genuine soul shines through when Bob speaks and that’s what makes you at least listen to him. You don’t feel like someone is selling you something at all. Only someone who cares about you and wouldn’t lie to you. Someone who only wants the best for you. He’s far away through a television or computer screen but he can feel like a friend. It’s because of this aura that he can make anyone feel just a tiny bit less lonely.

You Can Learn Beautiful Oil Painting With No Experience

The way Bob Ross presents oil painting is to allow anyone, no matter where they are in their artistic journey, to make something beautiful. That’s something he’s always repeating – “Anyone can do what I do. All you have to have is a little dream in your heart.” Oil painting is one of those things that make a lot of people think of the Old Masters like Leonardo da Vinci or Rembrandt. That it’s something that you need to have a born talent to do or lots of training. But Bob will lay out the process in an extremely simplified manner. He will tell you what paint colors you need, what brushes to get and he will demonstrate how he applies both to a blank canvas. And the entire time he does this, he will make you feel like he’s standing right next to you cheering you on every step of the way..

You Can Just Listen and Watch if You Don’t Want to Paint

When you’re grieving, the last thing you might want to embark on is oil painting, especially if you have never done it before. Bob makes it all pretty simple but you still might not be in the mood to go out and buy and set up the stuff, much less paint a whole picture. That’s why I would recommend that even if you don’t want to try painting or any art just yet, just listening to Bob and watching him paint instead is a lovely little bit of therapy all on its own. He has a way of inserting all kinds of encouragement and validation for almost anything in a very calm, positive manner. But without using cringy or toxic kind of positivity. He makes subtle little jokes and intelligent remarks, all while painting and in general, creating a totally non judgmental atmosphere.

And I think this is what really makes Bob Ross so popular. It’s not his paintings or even teaching you how to paint. It’s his way of being. The calm, kind and trusting presence he creates is what actually makes him endearing to so many people. He’s not about what’s good art or bad art. What he’s really about is making you feel like there’s some ounce of sincerity in a world that often makes us feel a whole lot less than that. And when you’re suffering from the loss of a loved one, it can be really nice to listen to this man when you’re feeling like life is anything but fair.

This is actually the kind of feeling I want this website, Grieving Arts, to have. This site sounds like it’s about art, but it’s really about validating your emotions and feelings with art being the backdrop for that.

Watch Bob Before Bedtime

If you decide to watch Bob paint his happy little trees, I would highly recommend that you do it at night, especially right before you try to go to sleep. As the day creeps into the evening, this is often the loneliest time for grievers, especially those of us who have lost spouses or family members that once lived with us. The silence can be unbearable. Silence is often the first thing we notice after losing someone. It can suddenly seem oppressing. So, that’s why I’d say, when the work day is done and the world has retreated, turn on Bob Ross and lose yourself in a place that doesn’t judge you and becomes your friend. I have heard that he’s great to have on when you are actually drifting off to sleep because of his voice, the nature of his paintings and the protective way he makes you feel.

I also like that Bob Ross paints only landscapes or seascapes. And he never has any people in his paintings. There’s something about the focus on nature without humans that is especially pleasing to me. Maybe it will be to you, too.

Watch Bob Ross here on YouTube.

Beautiful Bob Ross Quotes

“It’s so important to do something every day that will make you happy.”

“Wash the brush; just beat the devil out of it.”

“I remember when my Dad told me as a kid, ‘If you want to catch a rabbit, stand behind a tree and make a noise like a carrot. Then when the rabbit comes by you grab him.’ Works pretty good until you try to figure out what kind of noise a carrot makes…”

“Talk to the tree, make friends with it.”

“I guess I’m a little weird. I like to talk to trees and animals. That’s okay though; I have more fun than most people.”

“Ever make mistakes in life? Let’s make them birds. Yeah, they’re birds now.” (I have a shirt with this one on it!)

“That’s a crooked tree. We’ll send him to Washington.”

“I think there’s an artist hidden at the bottom of every single one of us.”

“In painting, you have unlimited power. You have the ability to move mountains. You can bend rivers. But when I get home the only thing I have power over is the garbage.”

“Gotta give him a friend. Like I always say, ‘Everyone needs a friend.'”

“Find freedom on this canvas.”

“I started painting as a hobby when I was little. I didn’t know I had any talent. I believe talent is just a pursued interest. Anybody can do what I do.”

“However you think it should be, that’s exactly how it should be.”

“Don’t forget to tell those special people in your life just how special they are to you.”

But Don’t Rely on Just Bob

I just wanted to add that as someone who has significant grief pain, I do not rely only on Bob Ross as a way of trying to heal. As wonderful as Bob’s personality is, I could never simplify grief to just happy little trees. Grief is not a simple thing and it’s an individual journey for everyone who has to cope with it. Bob is just one of those tiny suggestions to add to a list of coping ideas. Everyone is going to have a list of what they need and usually, a doctor or therapist is instrumental in aiding with this list. There’s a lot of things I do to help me with my ongoing grief, which has been pretty high, especially since I lost my husband. That was in 2016, and while I have since built new paths and new relationships, that pain is still there. It will always be there. So make sure you find out ALL the things you need as you try to go on in a reality that you never planned for.

As a griever myself, it’s fully possible that you may watch Bob’s happy world and get irritated or upset because your world is not happy right now. That’s totally okay! And I would completely understand that, too. As always, take from this site what does work for you and leave behind what doesn’t. And revisit things later if you find your needs and wants changing.

Take care!