Bob Ross Quotes, Inspirational, Philosophical
These Bob Ross quotes capture the wit and wisdom of a gentle and brilliant artist. His words are more than just thoughts and teachings about painting. They are philosophical quotes about inspiration, love, and self-acceptance.
Name: Bob Ross
Occupation: American painter and host of The Joy of Painting TV series on PBS from 1983 to 1994.
Known for: Inspirational painting guru with big, curly hair and a calm, soothing voice.
Born: October 29, 1942 in Daytona Beach, FL
Died: July 4, 1995 in Orlando, FL
Age: 52 years old
Top 10 best Bob Ross quotes
Soothing, whimsical, and totally chill… These are some of the terms that describe Bob Ross’ painting style. And then there’s the pop icon’s signature hair-do, wide-collared shirt, and deep, calming voice.
Through his instructional TV shows, Bob communicated more than just how to paint. He delivered a magical sensory experience while teaching us his philosophy of life.
Bob Ross’ best quotes:
1.) We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.
2.) Look around. Look at what we have. Beauty is everywhere—you only have to look to see it.
3.) Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you’re willing to practice, you can do.
4.) We don’t laugh because we feel good, we feel good because we laugh.
5.) This is your world. You’re the creator. Find freedom on this canvas. Believe that you can do it, ‘cuz you can do it.
6.) It’s hard to see things when you are too close. Take a step back and look.
7.) Go out on limb. That’s where the fruit is.
8.) There’s nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend.
9.) I think there’s an artist hidden at the bottom of every single one of us.
10.) We want happy paintings. Happy paintings. If you want sad things, watch the news.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bob Ross say about clouds?
Bob Ross says about clouds, “Remember how free clouds are. They just lay around in the sky all day long.”
What does Bob Ross say at the end of his show?
Bob usually closes out the show with a statement like “so from all of us here, I’d like to wish you happy painting. And God bless, my friend!”
How much does a Bob Ross original cost?
Recent online sales show original paintings by Bob Ross can fetch from $8,000 to $10,000.
What is “The Bob Ross Effect”?
The Bob Ross Effect refers to a sense of relaxation derived from Bob’s calm, assuring voice and his gentle paint brush tapping on the canvas throughout his show, The Joy of Painting.
This phenomenon is called ASMR or Auto Sensory Meridian Response. ASMR is a sense of euphoric relaxation, brought on by calming sounds and imagery. Sounds may include such things as whispers, tapping finger nails, and crinkling paper. It’s believed that these kinds of stimuli cause chemicals (endorphins, oxytocin and serotonin) to create a tingling sensation in the brain.
VIDEO: Watch The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
Bob Ross quotes on painting
11.) You too can paint almighty pictures.
12.) Every day is a good day when you paint.
13.) Make love to the canvas.
14.) I can’t think of anything more rewarding than being able to express yourself to others through painting.
15.) I think each of us, sometime in our life, has wanted to paint a picture.
16.) If I paint something, I don’t want to have to explain what it is.
17.) See how it fades right into nothing. That’s just what you’re looking for.
18.) I like to beat the brush.
19.) I really believe that if you practice enough you could paint the ‘Mona Lisa‘ with a 2-inch brush.
20.) What can be painted can be punished.
21.) 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.
22.) I taught my son to paint mountains like these, and guess what? Now he paints the best darn mountains in the industry.
23.) How do you make a round circle with a square knife? That’s your challenge for the day.
24.) All you need to paint is a few tools, a little instruction, and a vision in your mind.
25.) Mix up a little more shadow color here, then we can put us a little shadow right in there. See how you can move things around? You have unlimited power on this canvas—can literally, literally move mountains.
Bob Ross timeline
- 1942 – Birth: Bob Ross is born on October 29, 1942 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
- 1965 – Marriage: Bob’s first marriage, to Vivian Ridge, lasts 12 years. In 1977 he marries Jane Ross. The couple remains married until 1992, upon her death. In 1995 Bob marries his third wife, Lynda Brown.
- Early 1980s – Bob’s Hair: Bob gets his signature hair from a perm—he wanted to save money on haircuts.
- January 11, 1983 – TV Debut: The Joy of Painting television show debuts on WNVC in Falls Church, Virginia.
- 1992 – Syndication: The Joy of Painting gains a wider audience on PBS stations nationwide.
- Early 1990s – MTV: Bob appears on MTV commercials, painting the MTV logo in a landscape.
- July 4, 1995 – Death: Bob Ross dies from lymphoma at the age of 52.
Bob Ross quotes on happiness
26.) We artists are a different breed of people. We’re a happy bunch.
27.) [Painting] will bring a lot of good thoughts to your heart.
28.) It’s so important to do something every day that will make you happy.
29.) Isn’t it fantastic that you can change your mind and create all these happy things?
Funny Bob Ross quotes
30.) That’s a crooked tree. We’ll send him to Washington.
31.) 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.
32.) I guess I’m a little weird. I like to talk to trees and animals. That’s OK though; I have more fun than most people.
33.) They say everything looks better with odd numbers of things. But sometimes I put even numbers—just to upset the critics.
34.) That’s where the crows will sit. But we’ll have to put an elevator to put them up there because they can’t fly, but they don’t know that, so they still try.
35.) Water’s like me. It’s lazy. Boy, it always looks for the easiest way to do things.
Check out these funny inspirational quotes.
Bob Ross quotes on love & friendship
36.) Gotta give him a friend. Like I always say, ‘Everyone needs a friend.’
37.) Don’t forget to tell these special people in your life just how special they are to you.
38.) Talk to the tree, make friends with it.
39.) If we’re going to have animals around we all have to be concerned about them and take care of them.
40.) Now then, let’s come right down in here and put some nice big strong arms on these trees. Tree needs an arm too. It’ll hold up the weight of the forest. Little bird has to have a place to set there. There he goes…
41.) If we’re going to have animals around we all have to be concerned about them and take care of them.
Inspirational quotes
42.) Didn’t you know you had that much power? You can move mountains. You can do anything.
43.) Use absolutely no pressure. Just like an angel’s wing.
44.) You can do anything here—the only prerequisite is that it makes you happy.
45.) Let’s get crazy.
46.) Believe that you can do it cause you can do it.
47.) Anytime you learn, you gain.
48.) Be so very light. Be a gentle whisper.
49.) It’s life, it’s interesting, it’s fun.
50.) You can do anything you want to do. This is your world.
51.) You have to allow the paint to break to make it beautiful.
52.) If you do too much, it’s going to lose its effectiveness.
53.) You can do anything here—the only prerequisite is that it makes you happy.
54.) Lets build a happy little cloud. Lets build some happy little trees.
55.) There’s nothing in the world that breeds success like success.
Philosophy quotes
56.) Just let go—and fall like a little waterfall.
57.) We don’t really know where this goes—and I’m not sure we really care.
58.) You can have anything you want in the world—once you help everyone around you get what they want.
59.) The secret to doing anything is believing that you can do it. Anything that you believe you can do strong enough, you can do. Anything. As long as you believe.
60.) This is happy place; little squirrels live here and play.
61.) Gotta have opposites, light and dark and dark and light, in painting. It’s like in life. Gotta have a little sadness once in awhile so you know when the good times come. I’m waiting on the good times now.
62.) Ever make mistakes in life? Let’s make them birds. Yeah, they’re birds now.
63.) I can’t think of anything more rewarding than being able to express yourself to others through painting. Exercising the imagination, experimenting with talents, being creative; these things, to me, are truly the windows to your soul.
64.) No pressure. Just relax and watch it happen.
65.) Don’t forget to make all these little things individuals—all of them special in their own way.
66.) Find freedom on this canvas.
67.) You need the dark in order to show the light.
68.) However you think it should be, that’s exactly how it should be.
69.) In nature, dead trees are just as normal as live trees.
Thank you for reading Bob Ross Quotes. Check out these other great quote lists:
The Best Socrates Quotes and Sayings
Will Rogers Quotes and Sayings
The Best Butterfly Quotes for Inspiration
By Greg Johnson | Published 12/14/2020
