Series 1

The Joy of Painting

BBC Four

BBC Four HD

Bob Ross

The Joy of Painting: Series 1: Lakeside Path

Bob Ross crafts a painting of a birch tree set against evergreens and a blue sky.

Lakeside Path

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Series in which Bob Ross paints beautiful scenes inspired by nature in just 30 minutes.

Happy little trees and soothing words. Thirty minutes of bliss as art and ASMR sensation Bob Ross illustrates perfect, peaceful painting in his own gentle, genuine style.

Happy little trees and soothing words. Thirty minutes of bliss as art and ASMR sensation Bob Ross illustrates perfect, peaceful painting in his own gentle, genuine style.

American painter Bob Ross offers soothing words of encouragement to viewers and painting hobbyists in an enormously popular series that has captivated audiences worldwide since 1982. Ross is a cult figure, with nearly two million Facebook followers and 3,000 instructors globally. His soothing, nurturing personality is therapy for the weary, and his respect for nature and wildlife helps heighten environmental awareness. 

In the series, Ross demonstrates his unique painting technique which eliminates the need for each layer of paint to dry. In real time, he creates tranquil scenes taken from nature, including his trademark ‘happy’ clouds, cascading waterfalls, snow-covered forests, serene lakes and distant mountain summits. 

Many of Bob’s faithful viewers are not painters at all. They are relaxing and unwinding with Bob’s gentle manner and encouraging words, captivated by the magic taking place on the canvas.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

The Joy of Painting: Series 1

Happy little trees and soothing words. Thirty minutes of bliss, as art and ASMR sensation Bob Ross illustrates perfect, peaceful painting in his own gentle, genuine style.

American painter Bob Ross offers soothing words of encouragement to viewers and painting hobbyists in an enormously popular series that has captivated audiences worldwide since 1982. Ross is a cult figure, with nearly two million Facebook followers and 3,000 instructors globally. His soothing, nurturing personality is therapy for the weary, and his respect for nature and wildlife helps heighten environmental awareness. 

In the series, Ross demonstrates his unique painting technique, which eliminates the need for each layer of paint to dry. In real time, he creates tranquil scenes taken from nature, including his trademark ‘happy’ clouds, cascading waterfalls, snow-covered forests, serene lakes and distant mountain summits. 

Many of Bob’s faithful viewers are not painters at all. They are relaxing and unwinding with Bob’s gentle manner and encouraging words, captivated by the magic taking place on the canvas.

BBC Four - The Joy of Painting, Series 1, Lakeside Path

A misty background of evergreens and a cheerful blue sky give Bob Ross the perfect setting for a lovely birch tree painting.

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The Joy of Painting

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