What is The Joy of Painting about?

The Joy of Painting was an American television show hosted by painter Bob Ross that taught its viewers techniques for landscape oil painting. Although Ross could complete a painting in half an hour, the intent of the show was not to teach viewers "speed painting". Rather, he intended for viewers ...

The Joy of Painting

Name: The Joy of Painting
Genre: Family, Documentary
Released: 1983-01-11
Rating: 8.5
Cast: Bob Ross

"We don’t make mistakes, we just have happy accidents."

TV Show TV-G 1983 30m/ep 8.5 /10 Ended

A PBS Original

Created by Bob Ross

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Streaming availability last verified: January 14, 2026

About The Joy of Painting

On screen, Bob Ross invites viewers into a calm studio where landscapes grow from a few simple strokes. The Joy of Painting teaches oil technique by guiding viewers through each scene layer by layer, not by rushing to a finished piece. Ross shows how to block in broad shapes, blend skies and mountains, and render trees with gentle dabs, then invites painters to follow along at their own pace. The show avoids flashy tricks and focuses on steady practice, encouraging personal interpretation and experimentation rather than perfection. Debut on January 11, 1983, the series ran through May 17, 1994, with Ross teaching in a soft, encouraging voice throughout. Its format emphasizes patience and discovery over speed.

Created and hosted by Bob Ross, the program stitched together technique and encouragement across a long run that began in 1983 and continued until 1994, building a steady audience and turning painting into accessible entertainment.

Ross's gentle approach left a lasting imprint on popular culture. The show spawned reruns, fan communities, and a wave of beginner painters who embraced oil landscapes. Its calm cadence and practical methods helped demystify art for millions.

Critics noted the show's instructional clarity and focus on process over product. Central themes include patience, personal growth, and finding joy in everyday landscapes, encouraging viewers to slow down observe nature and experiment with color and texture.

Details

Release Date: January 11, 1983
Episode Length: 30m
Rating: TV-G
User Ratings: 58 votes
Type: TV Series
Seasons: 31
Episodes: 403
Network: PBS
Status: Ended
Genres: Family, Documentary
Country: United States
Studio: WIPB +1 more
External Links: View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Bob Ross

Self - Host

Created by: Bob Ross

Seasons (31 seasons, 403 episodes)

Season 1

13 episodes - 1983

Season 2

13 episodes - 1983

Season 3

13 episodes - 1984

Season 4

13 episodes - 1984

Season 5

13 episodes - 1985

Season 6

13 episodes - 1985

Season 7

13 episodes - 1985

Season 8

13 episodes - 1986

Season 9

13 episodes - 1986

Season 10

13 episodes - 1986

Season 11

13 episodes - 1986

Season 12

13 episodes - 1987

Season 13

13 episodes - 1987

Season 14

13 episodes - 1987

Season 15

13 episodes - 1988

Season 16

13 episodes - 1988

Season 17

13 episodes - 1989

Season 18

13 episodes - 1989

Season 19

13 episodes - 1990

Season 20

13 episodes - 1990

Season 21

13 episodes - 1990

Season 22

13 episodes - 1991

Season 23

13 episodes - 1991

Season 24

13 episodes - 1992

Season 25

13 episodes - 1992

Season 26

13 episodes - 1992

Season 27

13 episodes - 1993

Season 28

13 episodes - 1993

Season 29

13 episodes - 1993

Season 30

13 episodes - 1993

Season 31

13 episodes - 1994

Frequently Asked Questions

The Joy of Painting is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. You can also rent or buy it on Apple iTunes and Amazon Video.

Yes, The Joy of Painting is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Yes, you can buy on Apple iTunes and Amazon Video.

The Joy of Painting has 31 seasons with a total of 403 episodes.

With a rating of 8.5/10 from 58 viewers, The Joy of Painting is highly recommended and considered excellent by most viewers.

The Joy of Painting stars Bob Ross.

The Joy of Painting was created by Bob Ross.

The Joy of Painting was released on January 11, 1983.

The Joy of Painting is a Family and Documentary series.

Bob Ross appears as himself and hosts The Joy of Painting, guiding viewers through landscape oil painting techniques. He demonstrates calm, step-by-step methods as he paints.

Episodes run about 30 minutes. Ross typically completes a painting within that half hour, but the show is about learning techniques, not keeping a strict pace.

The series spans 31 seasons with 403 episodes. It aired from 1983 to 1994 and is now ended.

The Joy of Painting premiered on January 11, 1983 and ended on May 17, 1994. The run ended about a year before Bob Ross passed away.