‘Bob Ross: The Happy Painter’ on Amazon Will Make You Miss ‘The Joy of Painting’

If you’re someone who’s gone through all 52 episodes of Bob Ross: Beauty is Everywhere and Chill with Bob Ross on Netflix, you might be interested to know that there’s a one-hour Bob Ross documentary available to stream on Prime Video. Much like his transformative PBS series, Bob Ross: The Happy Painter is an uplifting journey that will make you smile. Detailing Ross’ childhood, rise to fame, and unfortunate passing, the film is a celebration of one of the most iconic, and more importantly beloved, TV personalities of all time.

In terms of structure, The Happy Painter doesn’t reinvent the wheel. The docu-story provides fans with a behind-the-scenes peek at the man behind the picturesque clouds and breathtaking landscapes. Featuring interviews with friends, co-workers, and an eclectic group of celebrities — including Brad Paisley, Terrence Howard, Phil Donahue, and Jane Seymour — the film uses classic Joy of Painting episodes and rare footage to, pardon the pun, paint a better picture of the inspirational instructor.

“The Bob you see on the show is the Bob we all knew, even behind the scenes,” Ross’ colleague Bill Bryant says in the documentary. Bryant’s sentiments are echoed throughout the film. Many documentaries dwell in the negative, but The Happy Painter embraces the positive, sharing little known anecdotes about Bob’s professional and personal life. From a light-hearted story on the origins of Ross’ famous afro to how the artist’s deteriorating health led to the end of The Joy of Painting, the documentary is required viewing for any Bob Ross fan.

Many people try to act cool, but Bob Ross was cool. When classic episodes of The Joy of Painting premiered on Netflix, I wrote that Ross’ optimistic disposition and constant encouragement helped transform him into the favorite uncle of the internet. In a way, watching The Happy Painter is like catching up with a beloved family member.

“People continually say, ‘I can’t draw a straight line. I don’t have the talent, Bob, to do what you’re doing,”‘ Ross once said. “That’s baloney. Talent is a pursued interest. In other words, anything that you’re willing to practice you can do.”

The Happy Painter and classic episodes of The Joy of Painting are currently streaming on Prime Video.

Where to stream Bob Ross: The Happy Painter