Bob Ross Copied a German??
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- Опубліковано 29 лип 2019
- Bob Ross is a cultural icon in the US but Bob stole his fame from another man - a German man named Bill Alexander. Watch my video to learn the untold truth about Bob Ross and The Joy of Painting.
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Hi! I'm Kelly and I am an American who lived in Germany for 18 wonderful months. While I lived abroad before in Turkey and had done quite a bit of traveling beforehand, those 18 months in Germany definitely broadened my perspective of Germany, Europe, and even the US in so many different ways! I wanted to share my perceptions with you guys through UA-cam so that maybe you can gain context to things you've heard about, or learn new information or a different perspective, or maybe this is everything you've heard before and further confirms your world view. No matter what the reason, I hope that you enjoy my videos! Don't forget to subscribe to my channel and turn on notifications so that you always know when I'm posting new content :)
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When I first set out to make this video, I had the idea of just making a video about Bob Ross because I had recently learned he was a drill sergeant in the Air Force and I found that fascinating given his personality...but then as I started to do more and more research about Bob, I kept coming across this Bill Alexander guy since they had so many encounters. So then I started to research Bill Alexander, who I never even heard of before, and realized that the video I should actually make is about the story no one really knows...the story about Bill Alexander and how Bob Ross succeeded him in every way. I hope that you all are able to appreciate the goal of this video - a sort of vindication of Bill Alexander while still recognizing that Bob Ross was truly talented and deserving of his success.
I understand the goal😊 Great video also! I hadnt heard of Bill Alexander before this video, it was very informing
Thank you for bringing this to the attention of all those who never watched Bill in the 70's and 80's as I did (as a kid) and who only knew BR. I never could stand BR, I think I only saw his show one time, probably saw right through him because of my familiarity with Bill. Now I'm watching new releases of Bill's work several times per week from the Alexander Art channel. It's wonderful to watch Bill again and I've begun to learn to paint, and in his style with his paints and knife. Bill lambasted someone whom he left unnamed in one of his shows, and I'll bet Mr. Ross was his "betrayer" in that rant. Who else could it be?
I have a couple things. Your video essay is misleading by leaving out some context. Ross was not a drill sergeant hustling grunts around in circles shouting, "LEFT, LEFT, YOUR LEFT RIGHT LEFT." He was a clerk in a cushy Air Force hospital who eventually worked himself up to being a First Sergeant. In that role he was the disciplinarian who ensured the airmen got to their clinics and offices on time, but that job is miles away from drill sergeant.
I don't think Alexander had a chance at becoming a major success. Why? He was at least one full generation ahead of his time. As an older American today, he creeps me out with his attack on the canvas, shouting orders at his brushes with a thick, German, accent. I cannot help but visualize a frothing Adolph Hitler in the newsreels of my childhood, punctuating his passionate speeches with the same vocal force and fist motions. To put this in perspective, would you watch a heavily accented, former Taliban soldier praising Allah and using a (pallet) knife to slash at the canvas? I'll take "happy little criss cross strokes" over "FIRE THAT SKY IN THERE! FIRE IT! FIRE IT! FIRE IT WITH YOUR ALMIGHTY BRUSH!" Alexander should have spent more time losing his accent to fit in with his adult audiences.
Having said that, neither one of them invented wet on wet, black gesso, or any of the other claims they sometimes made. While I think it is forgivable that Ross, as a former student of Alexander, used the same phrasing and occupational lingo that he learned from his teacher, is it as forgivable for Ross to falsely claim to have invented a technique that Alexander also falsely claimed to have invented? Probably not.
You make it sound like Ross had a sinister master plan to take over PBS from his German overlord. It looks more to me like Kowalski turned lemons into lemonade when her Alexander painting class teacher turned out to be Ross. She became his benefactor/patron promoting him everywhere she could. If anyone is a mastermind, it's her and her husband.
@@dchall8, how many languages do you speak? How is your accent in those languages? And how much time do you spend losing your accent to fit in?
Well, you seem to be an expert in this regard and able to judge this matter quite well...
First I thought, how silly it is to compare Bill Alexander with Hitler and a Taliban. But then I thought ... maybe I should try the same mind set the next time I go to my favourite Italian restaurant: Could it be that the waiter sounds like Mussolini? Why is he not spending more time loosing his accent? And can I really enjoy these cannelloni considering the war crimes in Ethiopia, the use of chemical weapons and the several hundred tousands who were killed there between 1935 and 1941? Do I know how many my waiter killed since there was never a trail like in Nuremberg? *
*) Attention - can contain traces of irony!
I can appreciate Bill's misgivings. Bill really struggled for a long while, and was a visionary of sorts. It's just a shame, he never received the credit he was due during his time on Earth. As is the case with most of the best artists.
In the Bob Ross' very first episode, he does acknowledge that he learned it from Bill Alexander. He said it quite categorically, in fact.
and at that time while plotting with the Kowalski's Bob still worked for Alexander selling his paints and instructing for him..
I adore Bob Ross. That said, I would argue that Bob Ross didn’t really master William Alexander’s technique. Alexander’s landscapes are much more natural-looking and his use of color, light, and composition are far superior to BR paintings.
Truth. And the video's evidence that Ross "did it better" is nothing to do with art. Van Gogh didn't win any Emmys, either.
Bob ross often gave the credit to bill Alexander
He was a teacher...good students take after good teachers ...i don’t see the problem here
@Jayden Spiller Really Really Right
Of course you don't see a problem here.
You also don't have access to knowledge of logical fallacies.
I dont think its a problem or even bad! But I think its important to honor and remember the teacher at the same time!
Fr he's mad that his student got more famous .Thats jealously right their .
The problem is not bob doing paintings with the technique bill created , the problem is bob copying bill's way of running his business ( certified trainers ect... ) also bob stole all of bill's expressions like -happy skies , little friends , hypnotizing clouds , powerfull paintings , powerful mountains , mud mixing and list list just goes on and on .
I was so disapointed when i realized there is nothing unique or authentic about bob .
Dear Kelly, thank you for this. My story is similar to yours with one difference. I came to Bill Alexander only days ago. To he honest, just stumbled upon upon him by reading about Bob Ross, feeling that the artistic criticism Bob received was unjustified due to him dying so tragically of cancer, so long ago. Back in 2000 my wife subscribed to Sky TV and I stumbled upon Bob Ross' painting series which has kept my interest in art alive, sometimes triggering enthusiasm, ever since. Back to Bill, having read that he was Bob's teacher did not initially inspire my research, in sympathy with what I read about, Bob's immediate family losing control of the business. Anyway, I thought of watching very recently just one of Bill Alexander's programmes and I was stunned by the inspirational show. And ad I watched more and more, I started to do more research on both while watching Bill. The point is that I feel that I do not want to watch Bob Ross, because every show, and nearly every comment, in all the series of The Joy of Painting, show Bob Ross and guests were just clones of Bill Alexander. It is true though that Bob had a calming voice, soothing and comfortable, but I have at this moment, for these past 25 years, felt cheated now. The laurels and inspiration for my love of art belongs to Bill Alexander. For it is his way that I see art: not only in the way I paint, but how I should Lift myself before I even touch the canvas. Thank you.
Bill Alexander had his own show and willingly made business with Ross to make him blow up. Ross even worked with the Alexander family for the majority of his career. All of these things are already known. It wasn't "stolen." Also, if you've watched enough Bob Ross, you would see that he has repeatedly given credit to Bill and everyone, except for himself.
Then explain if how if Bill didn't feel betrayed why it's easily researched that he reached a point where he was so distraught at the betrayal that he never spoke to Bob Ross again.
Bill originally hired Ross (after teaching him painting) to do workshops for him, they were partners - apprentice/master. The problem was that Bob went secretly behind Bills back to sell his “own” line of painting materials…except they were almost exact replicas of the special brushes & paints Bill developed. For instance “liquid white” was what Bill had developed as “magic white”, the special palette knife Bill honed, etc. Bill felt betrayed because Bob didn’t tell him & did it behind his back.
@@noelc2 Bob also called it magic white in the beginning. I don't remember when he started to call it liquid white.
To quote Charles Caleb Colton: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Bill is great, Bob is great and I am thankful that I can learn this fabulous painting style from 2 completely different men! Bill had more of an Impressionistic style while most of Bob's paintings were vibrant. Bill was energetic while Bob was soothing. They had their own ways of inspiring artists to pick up the brushes and believe in ourselves.
Imagine having to join the army just so you qualify for a job where you can be alone and paint, and instead end up at the Russian front.
Right!???
Yeah and being captured by the American Military was quite possibly the best thing that could have ever happened to him. If you were captured by the American Military in you were a prisoner of war and the Geneva Convention do demanded a certain criteria of of treatment for prisoners.. appropriate bunks the sleep on food and work. And that William Alexander had the materials in order to paint the pictures hanging in his Barbershop and that he was allowed to have a barbershop was impressive.
"wet-on-wet" or alla prima technique actually originated in Flanders during the 15th century, and was used by Frans Hals, Diego Velázquez, Caravaggio, Paul Cezanne, John Singer Sargent, and Claude Monet, among many others.
just copy and paste form wiki
But it's not just the technique or method of painting that's in question, it's the persona that Ross copied from Alexander.
Gareth M he invented that palette knife and it was actually an improvement over traditional palette knives. The magic white I believe was his invention. To my knowledge I don’t know another artist that used white thinned with stand oil to cover the canvas to blend the colors into. The mountain technique was bills because it required very thick paint to get that effect and I don’t think the paints were thick like he used. Bill had mentioned when he came up with his techniques he would buy paint, squeeze it onto news paper to suck the oil out of the paint so it would be thick enough for his techniques. He didn’t invent wet on wet, but he invented his wet on wet technique.
True. But Bill Brought it back to the Forefront ..
that's why i very *clearly* stated that Bill Alexander "adopted" the technique...meaning he adopted it from elsewhere. i didn't say he invented it.
True Bill didn't invent wet on wet. He did however invent magic white. Which is key to his wet on wet technique.
I'm one of the few that watched "William" Alexander with my mom during his famous years on PBS during the 70s and 80s. I remember laughing at Bob Ross when I saw him copying William Alexander's mannerisms. I thought, what a fake. I was really bummed and kinda mad that Bob stole William Alexander's thunder.
But no one could steal his light. When one is an original they always remain untouched. Real recognize real. You can't copy what another person lived. He traveled the places he painted. His ideology was not american.
William Alexander was literally his teacher. If a student isnt as good as the teacber one day the teacher is dojng smth wrong. If i was will Alexander id be proud of bob ross
I’m 27 and I watched both Bob Ross and Bill Alexander. My granddaddy who was a painter in Georgia learned how to paint from Bill Alexander in the 70s and then my granddaddy went to Florida to go to Bob Ross’s classes. My granddaddy taught me how to paint when I was 5 or 6
If he was in it for the money why didn’t he or his wife ever sell his paintings?
didn't need to...his art supply business was worth millions and now it's not a question of whether he wants to sell his paintings, but rather if his wife wants to sell his paintings.
@@Kellydoesherthing He donated most the money he made.
copy right laws.
@@Kellydoesherthing "Bob Ross is very greedy but thank god his wife wasn't so implication of being good goes to his wife"... Also you talk about second half of his career.
Look up “how to buy a bob Ross” and then you may know why
I respectfully disagree with a few of these points, and I'll give my reasons. Not hating, just counter-arguing
1) Bob's persona wasn't a calculated business move. As you yourself said, he hated being the soldier that he was in the army, and personally vowed never to raise his voice again. He always loved animals growing up, proven by his having them on the show, and so was genuine in his caring, easy-going, gentle, and all around loving persona. His actions were always consistent with how he was on camera
2) Bob never claimed that he invented the wet-on-wet method of painting. If anything, Bill claimed that he invented it. And art historians disproved this by citing how the method can trace itself back to the 1500's Europe, or even earlier. Plus Bob gave credit to Bill for teaching him this method, especially on the first episode of the Joy of Painting. Bob can't be blamed for becoming famous for doing something someone else taught him anymore than any artist/musician/athlete can be blamed for becoming famous for doing something they had to be taught by someone else.
3) Even if Bill did it first, that doesn't invalidate Bob's right to his fame. Bill had the chance to make something of himself but either never pursued it, or didn't take the same opportunities that Bob did. Bob was discovered by one of his students who pushed him to go out on his own. His only business for the entirety of his life was selling paint supplies, never making a dime off of his show throughout his life. And getting his own business off the ground was so hard that he had to keep a hairstyle that he hated just to save money. Saying Bob Ross stole his fame is akin to saying Bob Ross stole Bill's money and used it to become famous. What Bob did was start his own business, make his own sacrifices, and reaped his own rewards.
Not only that it was Bill's company that told him that he should start making his own art supplies because they couldn't keep up with the demand that Bob was causing.
Notice she doesn't answer comments that HIT her with truth? This video is pathetic lol.
Clickbaited again, I won't be seeing anymore spam from this "content creator".
Those are good reasons. I mean it wasn't like bob wanted to scream at the soilders.
Bob made his money from his painting company, which is worth millions, so Bob didnt just get nothing from his job
Both men taught us to paint. It is best to thank them both and just continue to enjoy what they gave us.
I agree
Bob never denied that he was a drill instructor and that he yelled at people a lot. That's why he picked up painting, because it is quiet and peaceful. Also he never painted people because of the same reason...
He became tv bob ross to sell you his paints and brushes.
He never painted portraits because he didn’t have the skill .
Both Bill & Bob are great painters in their own right, great talent and enjoyable watching. Blessings ....
In the first couple of seasons Ross gave Alexander props. Alexander shouted and was excited. Ross speaks gently and soothes. Ross was an embodiment of ASMR. Most teachers look for their students to outdo them, at least the good ones. Bob Ross did his PBS show for free. He made his money from selling his paintings, and his instruction.
Also I heard that all the paintings Bob did on the show was given to the station.
I think the reason for the success of Bob ross is not so much his paintin, which is rather mediocre and „kitschy“, but his calm and soothing way which makes watching him quite delightful.
I agree!
I love Bill Alexander, I was so addicted to watching him. In fact, when I was in labor in the hospital with my daughter, I watched bill Alexander as a relaxation technique.
As an teenage artist in the early 80's in Michigan were I grew up watching Bill Alexander every Saturday on the PBS channel. I was very intrigue about what I had saw on televisions that had inspired me. Finally one Saturday afternoon I went to our local art shop and discovered Mr. Alexander first oil painting book and from there on out I bought every last one of them and rest was history from there on in.
I was really looking forward to seeing what your painting would look like when it was finished. Nice touch, btw.
Me too :( unfortunately I ran out of time and battery
A very informative video! I remember watching Bill Alexander's show as a kid, and I actually preferred his more excitable, dramatic, entertaining style of teaching to that of Bob Ross, who took a more calm approach.
Thanks!! Happy you liked it :)
thing ddontthinthings don't cared I prefer bob.and he always said that Alexander teach him so why dissrespect him.
Bob Ross learned from a german.
I fixed your title.😌
I love Bob Ross and he gives me joy from even beyond the grave! Because of him I can create beauty on a canvas and bring joy to others. He was a very kind caring man who wanted others to be able to experience the joy of painting, too. If he had done anything wrong legally he could've been sued but he wasn't the type of person to do others wrong so there's my opinion and I will continue to believe in him and learn from him. Nothing could ever make me think anything negative about him.
Slightly out of "schedule" but well worth waiting for.
Interesting and entertaining as ever.
Thank you.
Thank you!! I’m relieved to see all of the work was worth it :) I hope to get back to a more regular schedule in a few weeks :)
Neat idea.. like magic the picture gets painted.
Great information. Keep up the good work.
Also, is the painting in the video your work.? Like the progression as the story goes on. But would like to see the final product at the end.
Thanks!! I really wish I could’ve finished the painting but sadly I ran out of time and battery :(
She said she loves Bob and then suggestions that he stole his Fame. I think it's very shameful for her to suggest that he stole his Fame. And how could he stole the wet on wet technique when it was done in the 16th century. SHAME ON HER!
Good job. I loved this video and posted in in my blog.
I used to watch Bill Alexander's show when I was a kid - Bill Ross's not so much. But what drives me nuts is that so many people seem to think everything is a competition, and a zero-sum game at that. Bob Ross's success did not come at the expense of Alexander's. Their shows did not run concurrently. Ross's show on PBS started a year after Alexander's had ended. (Interestingly, their original shows ran about the same number of years.) And if Ross has since become more popular than Alexander, it's probably because of Ross's personality, which was very soothing. (Though considerably younger than Alexander, Ross actually died before Alexander did.)
Ross's popularity and culturally iconic status is nothing more than the ferocious push and greed of the Kowalski's.. read around and see what really happened and see what happened to Bob's son Steve.. the real loser in all of this. The Kowalski's even stole Steve's legacy.
Bob Ross didn't make money for PBS.
He gave Bill Alexander credit for teaching him the wet on wet method.
Bill did NOT join the Army. He was DRAFTED!
Bill and Bob were both great painters . 🎨
I remember painting with Bill Alexander on TV years ago. My grandson kept talking about Bob Ross and the “happy trees”… I told my grandson there was any other artist that started this style!!!! Thanks so much for tying this all together👍🏻
Bill Alexander was awesome, I used to watch him before Ross.
I did too. In fact, I wondered what happened to him? I liked him much better than Ross, but Ross was also good. It's a shame that Bill didn't get recognized as the brilliant painter he was. I also bought Bill's products, they were great and I created 1 beautiful painting using his technique. Thanks for sharing this, I never knew what happened to Bill.
Yes, Bill Alexander was clearly a superior quick painter.
@@tomc8617 nah he isnt, ross's style are much more artistic and less ambiguous
@@benedictusowenwijaya9702 - No way in Hades. William Alexander is way more realistic and higher quality. Not even close. Ross is cartoonish.
@@tomc8617 That, and utterly embarrasses Bob with his palette knife skills.
Just one fact must be corrected: Bob never earned money for his shows, he devolved the paintings to BRI Production, which auctioned them for own purposes. The other things were just remakes of Bill Alexanders way to talk , there was no copyright that couldn't have been copied.
Bob never took money for the show.. they weren't the main source of income, they were just commercials for the Bob Ross paints and line of products. That is where the real money was.. so don't be fooled by him not taking a pay. Bob Ross Incorporated (Kowalski's) basically has hoarded all of Bob's paintings.
Update to those who don't know. Netflix has a documentary about the dark side of Bob's Business called Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed which tells the terrible things that Bob's business partners did to his son Steve and others. It also gives a theory on what could have caused Bob's Cancer to relapse which was related to Paint Thinner.
I love how you're sneaking the painting behind you to completion as you talk. Subtle is cool!
Thank you!
I guess we’ll ignore the fact that Bob Ross repeatedly gave credit to Bill. This video is just clickbait taking advantage of a great guy that died too early
Someone is jealous of Bob's fame.
Julius Hopen i honestly always think about this he always give credit to bill
yeah, he literally give credits to Bill in the first Episode.
No I think that Bob just copied
FYI Bob Ross was never rich off of this yeah he donated his painting so other people can gain the profit off of his own paintings and not only that a lot of Bob Ross paintings that are later on that he created are not even sold their still owned by the lady that found him so yes he got the fam but he never got rich off of it
At the time of his death, Bob Ross’s net worth was $6 million. you’re right that he donated many of his paintings and he also did the show on PBS for free, but he sold products and merchandise, had licensing deals, and got paid for appearances/classes, etc
The only thing I dont like is the title, like really? I love everything else but Bob Ross isnt some evil person that stole fame, he earned it and might I add, he literally dedicates the joy of painting for bill Alexander in the first episode of season 2, so yeah, nice title good clickbait
Haha, well that’s ok then... You may well be right that Bob was not evil, he was too busy shamelessly reciting Bill’s quirky lines! That’s the world we live in, it seems.
I am not a fan of Bob Ross. I am one of those purists, who as a teenager watched Bill Alexander and adored him. When Bob Ross came along, I couldn't stand him. Still can't, he put me to sleep, and in 5 minutes I shut off the TV set. I would tend to think if you didn't know if Bill first, you might see Ross differently. But to me, Bill was the Poppa of Painting. And remains that way now. I'm thankful that Bills lessons are on UA-cam, and people get to compare them. But for me, well,. Can't deal with Ross or his lessons
Neither Bill or Bob created wet on wet, it has been around for a long time. I liked Bill’s show, but loved Bob’s show. Bob gave him credit as his mentor, but Bill was bitter over Bob’s success unfortunately. The public decides what they like, and Bob has become an icon. His soothing voice makes him the father of ASMR, a movement with many UA-cam artists. This memorizing aspect of his presentations made him so successful. Bob just did it better
Please watch Bob Ross Season 1 Episode 1 .. Bob gave all the credits to Bill Alexander from whom he learned this technique ... He didn't steal the fame the way you portrayed it here ...
Bill Alexander was great. I tend to be a little bias, because I am German by blood.
I am not German by blood, but I agree with you.
@@michaelbergman1708 Me too
Bill is the greatest painter. and was way more versatile. now with covid-19 they released more episodes of his show in youtube I hope ppl will watch and enjoy...
Kelly, I like your videos, this one I love. This video is your masterpiece, in so many ways.
I also was fascinated to watch Bob Ross' shows aired in Germany by Bayerischer Rundfunk originally, currently still rebroadcasted by ARD alpha. I had never heard of Bill Alexander. Thank you so much for your research and for unfolding the story in this very entertaining and very well produced video.
To be honest, I became a little impatient waiting for the successor of the "red cup", now I know why it took "so long": I patiently look forward to more quality content coming from you. Enjoy doing your thing!
sorry this response is so late but thank you!! i did soooo much research for this video plus ran around to about 3 different art stores to get what i needed for my painting haha so i'm very happy that you enjoyed the video and noticed the quality :)
I remember William Alexander and I saw him well before Bob Ross came along. I instantly knew Ross had ripped off Alexander and it made it difficult for me to like Bob Ross as much as I otherwise would have if it weren't so obvious that he was ripping off everything about William Alexander right down to his term "happy little trees". Still makes my skin crawl !
Wet on wet painting has been around since before the Renaissance, Bill Alexander and Bob Ross both popularised the technique but their presenatations and paintings were different to each others with a degree of overlap.
you make every subject interesting. Love rthe shirt !
Thank you!!
Okay... I was the guy who shrunk wrapped all those Bob Ross VHS tapes in the early 90's.. and the client was Alexander Paint.. owned by Bill Alexander in Salem Oregon... Bob was talent he hired to help create training vides to go with his paints supplies. When Bill sold the company.. Bob took his lessons and went on his own... no one stole nothing. These original tapes used to be dupped at Technifilm Labs in Portland Oregon.
I don't know what people saw in him. I grew up watching Bill Alexander and he had a soul, a heart and was so loving and creative. Bob made me feel emptyness, shallowness. Never watched him.
Bill Alexander did not invent wet on wet, that technique had been used for centuries
yep! that's why i said that Bill Alexander "adopted" the technique
I grew up on Bill Alexander!! :) I saw him as a child in the last 70s at Woodfield Mall in Illinois.
Oh my gawd! I haven't thought about that show Bob Ross did {think I forgot his name too) in decades! And what a story you had for us too. i had no idea his persona was 'borrowed" or he permed his hair and on, and on. Great story time Kelly, very well done! :-)
He just got the technique from his mentor wet on wet he never copied him he has also credited bill
I didn't knew that! Interesting! Thanks
Love how each time the camera pans back to you, there is a new step on the painting that’s on the easel…brilliant!…lol🤣
Hmm, interesting perspective. I remember that Bob Ross dedicated at least one episode to Bill Alexander. However, it´s difficult to take sides here. It may has a reason that he had a greater success.
As a note on the side - Bill Alexander survived Bob Ross two years.
I’m pretty sure it’s season 2 episode 1
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery many might say and both Bill and Bob have shared their amazing gifts to contribute to making this world and the people in it better in the sense that we can do things we may not have known was possible. Each person has a very unique personality and both of these men and many others (even on you tube today) are sharing their uniqueness and giftedness to bless, share and inspire us that in life we have the opportunity to be creative and accomplish things we may not have thought possible.
Tony English I agree :) they’ve brought countless people a lot of joy
Did you finish to do your own painting ?
No :( I ran out of time and battery and now it’s sitting in my living room waiting for me to finish it
Fascinating story! Thank you!
Thank you for this video, I never knew this., I now subscribed to his UA-cam channel too. :)
It's not copying if you cite the source.
61 years old, i seen both in their day, inspiration and encouragement were given by both and both deserve credit purely for that. Who is chicken and who is the egg doesnt really matter.
thanks again for sharing a new great story... i really don't wannabe tedious... just know that in a quiet manner i'll always watching your videos & will never click thumb down.
Aw thank you!!
@@Kellydoesherthing შენ მადლობა...
I think it’s been almost 40 years since I last saw Bill Alexander’s PBS show, and I can still hear that damn theme music. 🤣🎶 🔪🔪😢
Lol!! It’s stuck in my head from watching so many of his videos for research hahaha
Yes! Me too! And when I heard it again for the first time on UA-cam, it was like releasing a fart that I had been holding since 1982
I don't get it. What did Bill think he was doing when he trained Bob and handed him the brush?
Fair question. I think he just didn’t expect him to copy such specific personality trademarks
Great video you definitely did your research I’ve watch all of bob and bills videos as well as did my own research on both of these great painters. God bless them both may they rest peacefully in the mountains of heaven
thank you! i'm happy you enjoyed the video :) and cool that you've researched about them too
This video is doing a better job of putting me to sleep than "The Joy of Painting" did on the weekends back when I was in junior high school in the mid '90s.
Danke schön für dieses super-interessante Video. Indeed, I had never heard of Bill Alexander. so interesting!
Thanks!! I’m happy you found it interesting :)
Loved this vid! But the most important thing you left out was that Bob was a German rock star over here in DE! He lived in Munich and was very famous here for his paintings. Didn't he die here too ? Maybe you should make a part two video with more of this topic. :)
Yes he died in the 90s :( I’m happy you liked the video!
BIll was a artist Bob was a painter depending on what you are trying to achieve determines who you should learn from, if i wanted a painting to hang on my wall i would hire Bill if i wanted my walls painted i would hire Bob . Its really that simple .
I just noticed the painting behind u progress as the talk is progressing
I see it as bob carrying bill's legacy bill was getting old and bob was younger so bill gave his show to bob
I loved watching Bob Ross when i was younger, never heard of Bill Alexander before! Great Video!
Thanks :)
I want to invite you to go over to Bill Alexander's UA-cam s the art of William Alexander that's how you'll find it. If you learn painting from Bob Ross tonight invite you to watch anyone video from William Alexander And if you don't go running to your easel to try out what you just saw I'll be very disappointed and surprised. Go ahead and watch him he really didn't once in awhile happy little tree happy little Shoreline is what he said mostly. When it came to the trees he would say and now we cut and mighty tree! emphasis on the mighty. There's a painting he did all in red tones it's a beautiful sunset with the last beams of sunlight firing through the sky and leaving its brilliance and small details and everything else in the picture. And it's just fascinating to watch him work only in red. Well it's Reds and oranges and yellows and where has to be bright bright white and then might be a little bit of white mixed in for light. It's amazing to watch what's on his . And watch his organization how he creates from the sky down and from the farthest point to the nearest the farthest image to the nearest. And how he organizes how he does everything. How he plans for the Reflections in the water how he plans for the light whether it's backlit front light ambient light. But he teaches technique, brushes, paints and firmness of paint viscosity color theory and composition and you you get all of that perspective! You get all of that without even realizing that you just learned a lot of major factors that would be taught to you in an art class as those things but he teaches them through application he teaches you through painting and using them. And what he does always makes sense. Anything that Bob Ross does right he doesn't write because he learned it from William Alexander. But by and large, Bob Ross's art is the dumbed-down version of anything that you can learn from the master who is William Alexander.
While the two shared the same style of painting (Bill's version of the Wet on Wet technique) Their painting styles are different Bob is laid back and relaxing. Bill is like a Viking pillaging a canvas. You need to watch both men. They are both excellent experiences.
Bob Ross is a straight up an artist in HIS OWN RIGHT. Not screaming at ya just emphasizing. Bob was an artist long before Mr.A. Ive watched Bob Ross so much as a child. Bob made it look so easy and effortless.
1st episode of painting with Bob Ross he says he literally credits Bill Alexander as the one of the guys who heavily influenced him...
I guess to me Bob didn't 100% steal his fame. He was given a great opportunity and he made the most of it. Bill had paved the street, Bob 4-laned it. He definitely added to what Bill had done. There are a lot of people who still couldn't have stepped into that opportunity and been successful. Bob was a talented artist in his own right. This is how I see it. As for his hair and what he did for the almighty buck, well, we all have to make a living so I see no issue with that.
If Bob wanted the money and exposure, he wouldnt have turned down Oprah...all Bob wanted to do was PAINT
I started painting a few months ago because I watched bob ross . Shortly after I found bill alexander and realized the similarities. The Ala Prima method may not have been directly created by bill but he was the first to bottle a product that he called magic white for his style of painting. Bob did say at first that bill taught him the technique but this shortly changed after bob started to claim he created the technique and what he called “ liquid clear” . So bob did copy bill a bit but we should all be happy that we had both of these great men to teach us all how to paint in the first place. I do wish that bill shared half of the recognition bob. I believe if there was no Bill Alexander there would be either no bob Ross or a different bob than we know and watch today. I Love them both and I’m only posting because my heart goes out to bill for I wish bob had credited him a little more throughout his shows .
They made TV Dinner art with recipes of pine trees, mountains, water, old cabins, etc. accessible to everyone.
I might tend to agree, but then I just watched "To the Summit" (ua-cam.com/video/kNXp-v1Y164/v-deo.html) and that looks to me a bit better than TV Dinner art.
Nothing's a secret around Bob Ross! And certainly every Painter in History learned first a technik, before he would develop his own style! And Bill Alexander handed over his show symbolic to Bob!
I grew up watching Wilhelm Alexander as he used to say I guess in the '70s and early '80s. My dad and I would watch every episode with utter enjoyment never ever picked up a single brush but we felt like we could do it too. The mighty brush and Grand Tetons were our favorite catch phrases.
As that’s really cool :) thanks for sharing!
Bob Ross never wanted to be famous he's only wanted to share his passion for painting. He never asked money for his show.
Oh man, i feel so sad for Bill.
Hi. came across your vid. It was interesting. I have been looking for someone to discuss the history of these two.
Since I ended up with all of bills painting supplies,etc...... I got interested in his story. I would like to chat about all this. Let me know if we could email or something.
Kasey
Another great video! I love how your own painting progressed through the video; that was a nice touch.
Thank you! I just wish I could’ve finished it. I ran out of time and battery :(
Bob Ross and his business partners at one point complained to the Alexander Art Supply company about not being able to keep up with the demand for paint, brushes, etc. It was actually the Alexander company that recommended to Ross that he begin to manufacture his own... oops! So up until about 1987, Bob probably made a lot of money for Bill Alexander. When Bob (and the Kowalskis) decided to start their own art company, they didn't just make paint and brushes, they used Alexander's entire business model, right down to the companion books, instructional videos, and his own legion of "certified" instructors.
I remember watching his show when I was a German kid living in the US back the the 80s. I never picked up a painting talent, unfortunately.
Nice research work. I have followed both Bill Alexander and Bob Ross. Bob did acknowledge in his first show that he learned from Bill Alexander. If I were a teacher, I will feel proud that my students are doing much better than me. I seen other videos of Bill and he was never upset with Bob's decision to go on his own way. Ideally he would have preferred if Bob continued with him. However, individuals should be able to decide which way they want to go. I have learned from both and I feel good that I had the opportunity to learn from two great painters.
Thank you so much for this. I grew up watching Bill Alexander, and didn't even know about Bob Ross. When I did learn about Bob, I could tell immediately that he was copying Bill and I never got into his work or personality. I was always a Bill purist. Lol
Sounds like Bob LEARNED not stole from Bill.
Watching Bill paint right now. Loving it
I love your videos. Well researched and always entertaining. The progression of the painting behind you is a funny idea, but why not till the complete scenery?
I never heard of Bill Alexander before that video, even not in his and my home country Germany.
Jawohl, ebenfalls, ganz bestimmt. Ähnlich bei so vielen deutschen Komponisten wie Heinrich Schütz, Johann Georg Pisendel, Sylvius Leopold Weiß, Hildegard von Bingen, usw. Auf geht's Deutschland Österreich Liechtenstein Schweiz. Übung macht den Meister. Mach's gut! Prost
Thanks!! I really wish I could’ve finished the painting but sadly I ran out of time and battery :(
@@Kellydoesherthing Es gibt immer die Zukunft.😁😉
I enjoyed watching Bob Ross and listening to his soothing, enthralling voice... almost hypnotic. I also enjoyed watching Bob's art instructions on Wet-on-Wet painting. There are historical aspects and examples of this style of painting that comes to us from the late 1300s in Italy, then France... from many artists and eventually to America's impressionist painters up to about 1950s. Bill did not invent this style; he merely rediscovered it and adapted it, then simplified it to his style. Bob Ross later learned from Bill Alexander and worked for Bill. Bob and Bill were not rivals; they were each doing their own "thing," and making a living teaching on air. Yes, before Bob Ross there was Bill Alexander, the happy painter. Without Bill Alexander, we probably would never have had Bob Ross. No one can "steal" a style of painting; it is ridiculous to think so. Bill learned from the impressionists, and Bob had the good fortune of learning from Bill, and adding his own experiences and finally including his own descriptions to teach others. Bill Alexander and Bob Ross... I am grateful to have discovered them, although very late in my life.
Subbed soley for your willingness to speak truth.
In the very first episode of The Joy of Painting, Bob Ross stated that he learned the technique from William Alexander. I used to watch them both. Both are great but eventually, the student has to go out and do it on his own.
I admit it seems many successful artists and musicians never mention who taught them as beginners and provided the groundwork for their talent to develop. Bill excites me with his quick brush strokes and his enthusiasm….but remember…how did Bill learn? Was he self taught? Still self taught people often go to libraries, read, watch others….
And "Einstein said he built on the work of earlier giants, such as the physicist Max Planck." That is how things work. You could see someone changing a tire and say to yourself "that would be so easy if a spring were added right there" little changes can revolutionize a process.
Then somebody else watches you make a spring, steals the idea and puts a patent on it and takes all the credit.
@@unsignedmusic Does not matter because there is a country that ignores patents anyway!
@@johnjdumas So let's throw all patents out because of one country. Idiot.
Sounds like Annette Kowalski was key to Bob Ross's fame in terms of knowing how to market him. Had Annette not taken Bob's class (or if Bill Alexander taught Annette's class), we may never know who Bob Ross is today.