Bob Ross Painting: Is There a Better Alternative?

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Why do most people like the Bob Ross Painting method? Well, because it gives instant gratification and allows them to follow an easy "system."

However, I find that most paintings done in this style are a bit lifeless and dull. They are done following a cookie-cutter approach. Therefore, all sense of personal style is lost. Have you ever noticed how the paintings of students following the Bob Ross Painting method tend to all look the same?

I want to show you a better alternative, one that will yield much more satisfying results... especially in the long run.

I teach a system that is very versatile. You can paint about anything you want with it; portraits, still life, landscapes, whatever. You will end up with very unique paintings that would fit well in a museum. They will look professional. You are free to play with style in any way you see fit.

Let me give some examples.

Here is a local landscape. In this painting, I played with both lighting and color. As your eye follows the creek, you are drawn in by the light coming from behind the trees. I used strong blue highlights in the water to contrast the mostly neutral colors in the rest of the painting. I made use of both warm and cool colors.

Here is another painting I did still using the same color palette. You can emphasize whatever colors you want with my system. You don't even have to put green in the landscape as you will see in other examples. Also, I used strong geometric shapes to improve the composition.

This next painting was actually done in the summertime. With a little creativity, you can modify colors as much as you like. In this piece, I changed the green trees to more of an orange color to complement the blues and make them stand out.

Your work would not be this expressive with the Bob Ross Painting method. You need to consider a bit of color theory, brushstrokes, light and value.... everything I teach. Don't worry, it's really not that hard. It might take a little longer to learn, but you'll be much happier with the results.

I also recommend that everyone work on their drawing skills if they want their paintings to really take off.

Here is a pencil drawing I did of a landscape.

Working on your drawing skills will improve the accuracy and overall realism of your paintings. This is why I place so much importance on learning drawing.

I also like to get people off to the right start. If you start using the right colors and learn to use them correctly, you'll be doing professional looking paintings in no time. However, if you choose the way of instant gratification and go with the Bob Ross Painting method, you will have to re-learn everything and un-train yourself from bad habits if you ever want to progress.

Soon, I'll be giving away some free videos on both drawing and painting. Expect to start seeing some around April 2009 if not sooner. I'll show you how to make your paintings expressive while maintaining a professional quality.

In the meantime, browse through my other articles to learn more free tips.

A good article to start with for anyone new to painting is my How to Oil Paint article. Also, be sure to check out the gallery for more examples.

The skills and techniques I teach have been used by many master artists over the years. I know they work, and I know they will work for you.

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