According to NPR, Ross’ artistic career took off when he met Annette Kowalski. She was a fan of Alexander’s show and signed up to take one of his art classes. Instead, however, Ross was the one who taught the class. Although Kowalski wasn’t eager about it, she soon realized that Ross was something special. She asked to be his manager and soon after, Ross made a TV deal with PBS. When “The Joy of Painting” premiered, All That’s Interesting reports that several factors contributed to its popularity. For one, there was Ross’ sweet and patient aura.
In fact, Biography states that 90% of people who watched the instructional-based show did not paint along with him. However, if they did want to paint, Ross used inexpensive tools and regular paper (via All That’s Interesting). In other words, anyone could participate. His signature catchphrases and sayings also stuck with audiences. These included “happy little clouds” and “happy accidents.”
Britannica reports that Ross capitalized on his newfound fame by establishing Bob Ross Inc. to sell merchandise, art supplies, and more. Eventually, “The Joy of Painting” was internationally distributed, exposing Ross to a legion of newfound fans that adored his soothing presence. All in all, the show ran for 11 years. In 1994, shortly after the death of his wife Jane, Ross was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, per The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
