Customer Reviews

Best of the Joy of Painting

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It is ironic that the best recommendation for this book comes from someone who gave it one star! Study this book and you will be able to do what Bob does... Serious growing dynamic artists will surely look beyond this book but maybe they should at least take a peek. If Van Gogh had been as loved and/or recognizable in his time as Bob Ross was, he probably wouldn't have cut his own ear off. As a nearly elderly weekend painter I heartily recommend this book. I think my only visual handicap so far is that it's time for new bifocals though the visually verbose would certainly disagree.

I have never personally been a big fan of Bob Ross, but as an art teacher who only spends 2 hrs a week with my students, I can say that this book is perfect for them. My students love his style because they can can complete a very simple, yet beautiful painting in a very short amount of time. I wouldn't recomend it for more advanced artists, but if you are not trying to win any awards, and just want to complete a quick and beautiful painting, this has a lot of great examples.

I have realy enjoyed this book. Have only been painting 5 months, but results are wonderful. Thanks, Bob Ross

Eileen Houston, TX

Good old Bob Ross! I used to watch his series in high school and his shows were great. This book conveys their tone and has the added bonus of giving us his finished landscapes to look at as long as we want. I got this book so I could see the paintings, but under his step by step instruction I've also tried my hand at creating my own---and making art this nice isn't as easy as Bob makes it look! Whether you want to use this as a how-to guide for your own time in front of a canvas, or you simply like Bob Ross' artwork, this is a friendly visit with everyone's favorite PBS guru of oil painting.

I found this book full of ideas and gives the brain the chance to see Beauty in this sometimes sad world.I have found that each book I have bought, including this one, gives the artist a sure fire way of producing something...even though I now tend to use imagination .Simply illustrated and easy to follow,you will be happy to follow Bob in his Wonderful Lessons.Excellent and instructive for the beginner and the established painter.

Even if you never picked up a brush. Or didn't know how to read. Anyone could get an idea from this book. Maybe it's boring to others. Maybe because he does everthing step by step. So that you can make your own creations. I have never used oils in my life. But I wanted to learn. My Grandmother was a great artist. But when she could teach me, I was to young. When I was old enough, she passed away. I hope she can look down and see. I really did enjoy what she made. Now, I can make something beautiful too. I bought this and the red cover book. Super

I was so looking forward to this book. I wanted to follow the step by step instructions and to hopefully improve my technique.

These Joy of Painting books are ridiculous. The idea is fantastic, follow step-by-step instructions.

All the instructions are in black and white!!! You can't even figure out what they're trying to show because the photos are tiny and a bit blurry.

Whomever decided to print these in black and white wasn't too bright.

It's a waste of money. Instead invest in "Oils: Step by Step Art School" by Patricia Seligman.
It gives really good, important, clear and concise information and instruction for beginners.

This book is best used by those who have watched Ross's shows. The paintings are each shown in full color tho the instructional shots are smaller and in black and white. That's not as big a deal as it sounds as for the most part you are really being shown the way he's holding the brush to make stokes. There's plenty of good information for beginning artists and the full page full color photo of each painting is good for visual reference and inspiration.
The biggest negative for using this book for anyone not familiar with the show is that it's difficult to understand how the brushwork is done from just reading a book and seeing photographs. The book does a good job in describing it but there's nothing that compares to a live or video demonstration. If you've seen the shows the book makes a great reference. I used to watch the shows on Sunday with my husband when we were first married. I bought the 3 hour video workshop which I found to be a huge help because you could stop it and review his techniques. That would be my personal recommendation.

Mr Ross's biggest talent was not his painting. It was his calm reassuring voice telling you that anyone could do this with a little practice. He brought his joy of painting to all who cared to watch. Bob Ross's methods aren't an ending. They're a beginning. You won't be damaged by learning his techniques- and you might be encouraged enough to take a class.

Anyone who's watched knows it's your world and there are no mistakes... just happy accidents.

This was a very nice gift of good quality at a reasonable price.My grandson loved it. I loved Bob Ross and have learned a lot from his shows, books and his products are great. Good transaction. Fast delivery! AAA+++ sellar.

This book has the most beautiful paintings in it that I have ever seen.

I am a beginner painter (painting for 4 months) and there are enough instructions for me to follow to complete a painting. I just completed one of the paintings in this book and it came out beautiful.

This book gives me inspiration to also create my own paintings. I have really appreciated the information in the intoduction. There were some things, as a begining painter, that I did not know.

I use all of the Bob Ross brushes and palate knives and in his instructions he tells you which one he used to create the effect he is painting.

I plan on purchasing more of the Bob Ross books in the future. Right now, I have enough inspiration to create many many more lovely paintings.

We have a local County Fair and Peach Days Celebrations here in So. Utah. I plan on entering my paintings is our local competition.