Top 10 Most Impressive Bob Ross Paintings

What we wouldn’t give to be in that cabin on that cold, blue winter night… The painting is done on a black background, with predominant blues and whites added. The aurora borealis are painted using brushes, and the mountains are painted using a spatula; this gives them more texture. The trees and cabin are painted last, as it’s customary to always paint the distant elements first and work your way forward. The contrasts in this piece are really striking, and keep the eye engaged, and the result is a peaceful, dreamy, cold evening. The inhabitants of that cabin are probably sitting by the fire, enjoying the cozy solitude.

This piece is begun on a dark canvas, in order to really underline the poignancy of the colours. Ross begins with a dreamy night sky, lining the ocean and waves with a white spatula detail. The ocre rocky cliffs are also sharpened using a spatula, and the darkened trees are lightly highlighted to maintain a gentle tone. This painting really has a meditative feel to it. We can imagine ourselves sitting on the cliffside, breathing in the sea air and listening to the music nature provides in the crashing waves and soft winds. Perhaps the spirit of Bob Ross is sitting beside us...

On a light background, Ross paints an ethereal tropical sky using transparency. The darker colours are reserved for the periphery of the canvas, which is a trick to draw the eye to remain focussed on the painting in its entirety, from the center. The colors of the sky are beautifully projected onto and through the rising wave. The palm trees are painted last, as they are the closest element. The entire scene is so vibrant, despite its seeming simplicity with colour. It truly carries us to the beach, and we can almost hear the gentle waves and feel the sand between our bare toes.

This piece comes up as a favourite quite often. It’s a good example of the Rule of Thirds in art - that any piece should be divided into a nine square grid in order to achieve an interesting composition. The campfire itself is placed following this rule, as it is approximately ⅔ to the right of the painting, as well as ⅔ down. Ross begins with the sharp red glow of the fire, and works his way from there. The painting is completed with details using a spatula. It is a really striking image, intimate and private. It reminds us of nights out in the wilderness, wrapped in warm ponchos by the dancing fire.

Bob Ross was basically the Mr. Rogers of painting, and this piece is a great example of this. When he met a colourblind fan, who told him he could never paint due to his condition, Ross begged to differ. He then did an episode in which he painted using only grayscale. On a white background, Ross creates a rich tone of gray using a variety of colours. The sky is painted using a larger brush, and the mountains are traced using a spatula, to increase the sharpness. The mountains closest to the viewer are darker, to create depth, and touches of snow are peppered throughout. It’s a truly striking piece.

This serene winter scene is started on a white background, to convey the cold feeling. With a large brush, Ross works with transparency to produce the sun and winter sky, and trees are added using the tip of a larger brush. The scene is completed using a spatula and white hues to show layers of snow. As Ross was well aware, and we’ve noted, it’s important to always start with the furthest distance in the scene, and work your way to the foreground. The result is a stunning winter landscape with a small reflective pond, and the yellow, vibrant sun warming the otherwise cold picture.

This painting is slightly different from the others, as it has a bit of a surreal feel to it. On a black Gesso background (seemingly a favorite of Ross’s), birch trees are textured with whites and greys, with an overlay of transparent colours applied with a larger brush. The white snow, resembling fluffy clouds, provides a separation between the trees and their reflections. This is another Ross painting that depicts a sort of intimate glance, a moment of meditation. It’s a very straightforward painting, but still evokes that pensive spark.

#3: “Golden Rays of Sunshine”

Also in:

Top 10 Stars You Forgot Were on The Golden Girls

For this one, Ross begins with a black Gesso background, and adds texture using cloth. He then uses white and darker colours to create the trees and branches, beginning with the lighter and completing with the paler, creating both contrast and depth. A foam brush is used for any foreground elements, as the texture creates a sense of close proximity. The result is really reminiscent of walking in the woods on a sunny day and glancing up for a moment to see the sun’s rays peeking through the trees. It almost resembles a photograph.

One of Ross’s many cabins, this one is particularly inviting and impressive. Ross begins with a green and dark brown background, adding whites to create depth and atmosphere. Further detail is created on the canvas with carefully painted leaves, shrubs, textured barks and tree branches. Ross really was a master of creating inviting scenes, as this one really gives the impression that the viewer can enter the painting and take a peaceful stroll. You can almost hear the bird calls and scurrying squirrels, and perhaps one of Ross’s babbling brooks in the distance. The entire scene has the potential to seem lonely, but the colours and overall picture are somehow warm. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Cactus at Sunset” A Serene Desert Landscape in Striking Reds “Enchanted Forest” A Truly Captivating Forest Scene “Reflections” A Bright, Positive, Colorful Landscape “Winter Night” A Cozy, Intimate Winter Cabin Scene “Arctic Beauty” A Striking Snowy Mountain Scene

Though Ross has many paintings that could be deemed the top pick, we had to pick one. Ross again starts here with a black Gesso background, which makes all the subsequent colors he uses really pop. Working with large paint brushes, he begins with transparency and finishes off with paler colours to create thickness. The result is an ethereal waterfall nestled in some vibrant leaves. We can almost hear the meditative roar of the waterfall, and it’s really soothing. Bob Ross really had a way of creating calm, intimate landscapes, and “Graceful Waterfall” is the prime example of this.