During ‘The Joy of Painting’ Bob Ross often talks about his friends and students and about what great painters and instructors they are, especially his son Steve. But did you know that almost everyone can become an instructor for the Bob Ross painting method by visiting a Bob Ross Instructor Course? All you need is the desire to paint.
About the Courses
Bob Ross Inc. offers several courses that aim to teach you how to be a better painter and a great teacher and continue the legacy of Bob Ross. After finishing you can call yourself a Certified Ross Instructor and spread your love for creating beautiful paintings to the world.
There are four courses available, each covering a different topic. These are
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- Landscapes (CRI, Certified Ross Landscape Instructor)
- Flowers (CRFI, Certified Ross Floral Instructor)
- Animals (CRWI, Certified Ross Wildlife Instructor)
- People (CRPI, Certified Ross Portrait Instructor).
Each of these Teacher Training Seminars consists of three levels, each one building on the one below.
Level 1 provides a strong foundation in painting your desired subjects and places special emphasis on the proper use of the different available tools.
In Level 2 you will work on more advanced projects and start honing your skills as a teacher.
Level 3 is the final step in becoming a Certified Ross Instructor and does not only feature advanced painting techniques but also teaches you everything you need to know to become a successful teacher, from demonstration skills to product sourcing, class setup and even promotion.
Interview with an Instructor
We talked with Grant Wells, one of our followers on Twitter that successfully took all three levels of the Landscape Instructor Course and is now an official Certified Ross Instructor, about the course and his experience with it. Here is what Instructor Wells has to say:
“As a child of an art teacher growing up I always connected with Bob Ross. His mellow voice and supportive words always felt right at home watching him paint. So fast forward a few decades to me being a painting teacher myself at an art gallery it only seemed logical to learn the technique that inspired me so long ago. Bob Ross was more than an artist to a lot of people. He was a mentor, a teacher, and a cheer leader for those who couldn’t believe in themselves.
I went to the Bob Ross certification with only 6 months of oil painting under my belt. Most of what I did in the medium was my best attempt at doing what he taught in his videos so long ago. While he makes it look easy, Bob had a technique that he learned from William Alexander that was quick and effective. He took that technique and turned it into an amazing system of supplies and knowledge. While he looks like he’s just poking the canvas with the brush, there is so much more going on. Whether it’s the amount of paint used or just the pressure and direction of the bristles against the canvas.
The greatest thing I’ve learned from his technique is that with these tricks anything is possible, there really are no mistakes. In a world where everything is certain and forever, the style leaves room to be adapted to and fixed in any capacity by artists from beginners to the most experienced. The course taught me all these lessons, and that there is always more to learn. With enough practice anything is possible, it’s our world so we can sculpt anything we envision.
I definitely recommend the course to anyone interested in bettering themselves or learning a new skill. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful for whatever your goals may be. I was able to use the technique and paint my own style of science fiction landscapes of surreal alien planets. Just acts as a testimony to what can be done with the technique, and knowledge learned from the course. After the first day of class I noticed a massive difference in my abilities from the little tricks and tips I was taught. I may not be as good as Bob Ross, but I’m that much closer to being up there, I’ll give myself another 30 years. ”
Below you can see Grant’s progression during the course, with the first painting done before starting and the other ones during or after finishing the CRI course.
If you have any questions about the courses or want to tell us about your own experiences visit us on Twitter @2InchBrush.
Happy Painting!
