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Artists' quality paint?
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Message
Posted
As a matter of interest, and completely disregarding anyone's view of Bob Ross, who is anyway long dead - has anyone here actually tried Bob Ross Inc oil paint?
I was doing a bit of shopping for supplies today, and saw the Bob Ross range labelled as Artist quality (i.e., professional) paint. Now, I've never used the stuff - my only acquaintance with it comes from watching Bob's videos, on which it looked excessively sludgy, sticky, and pretty horrible to me - but reluctant to dismiss a product solely out of prejudice, I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has actually used the paint; what did you think of it; do you think it qualifies as Artist's/professional quality?
Posted
I certainly haven’t! Never actually given it a thought to be honest…
‘Sticky’ is the word I’d use after watching a few episodes - Bob doesn’t generally mix anything with a brush, and he doesn’t apply paint in the traditional manner! Stippling is the key word here!
He also mixes his paint using that ‘special’ patented painting knife, which looks more akin to a putty knife. He uses this implement to mix and drag paint across the canvas - why, one could ask, when brushes would make life easier and do a better job!
So, difficult to say how it would react in the hands of a traditional oil painter, but my guess is that I wouldn’t have any great issues with it, I can paint with pretty much anything if I had to!
As to being artists’ quality… it’s not cheap, but I have my doubts!
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
So have I; and the reason I ask - this paint is quite heavily promoted; if people are buying it as artists' quality, and it isn't - what harm might it be doing them? Not physical harm, but harm to their technique? Looking at it, I'd guess it was full of fillers - and artists' quality paint shouldn't be.
I didn't think you'd have used it, to be honest, Alan! Given no one here has ever mentioned it, I'm wondering to whom it sells - and what its attraction might be, other than that the Ross techniques are hard or impossible to achieve (not that I'd want to...) with conventional oil paint; and that his dire example is all over YouTube, and pushed by some art materials suppliers as if they'd bought a job lot of the stuff and are desperate to get rid of it.
My prejudices are showing, but I'm open to correction, or at least to argument, from anyone who actually has used it (if anyone asks "why don't you buy some yourself and give it a try?" my answer is a firm "Not on your Nelly" - I find it quite easy to ruin an oil painting, without using a product that could guarantee it: no no - YOU try it...).
Side note: around 30 years ago, I was asked to paint a lady's portrait - she wasn't keen, being more than slightly vain, on my initial drawings - she had no idea at all of the need to establish structure, and couldn't "read" them (I wouldn't normally show anyone my preliminary drawings, but she sneaked a peek). My suspicions of her deepened when she enthused about the "marvellous" Bob Ross - oh dear, I thought; if that's the standard you're hoping for, we aren't going to get on. As it happens, I didn't achieve any more than an oil sketch of her, because she very suddenly suffered a heart attack and died - never again would I take on a commission of a woman (or man, if they did this..) who was ageing but wouldn't realize it, and had painted themselves with heavy make-up before I'd got anywhere near them. I digress (again) - but when I say "never again", I do wonder how I'd manage to refuse such a commission if asked..... you can hardly tell 'em to wash all that mascara off so I can actually see how your face works... or that sending me a photograph of your glamour model daughter is not a LOT of help in painting in painting you (and yes, she did that...). Sad story, I'd have liked to paint her a portrait she'd have been happy with - but 65 isn't 25: no paint can work miracles.
Posted
He works to a set formula, and doesn’t deviate from it… everything follows a set pattern, method of applying paint, mark making, colours and technique, even composition to a degree!
Very easily learned after watching a few episodes, so could potentially appeal to newcomers, which I assume was his intended audience!
This was lasts nights effort - a photo taken with my iPhone at the TV, so blurry - don’t have nightmares!
I sent it over to Fiona for inspiration!
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
Depends on the artist - the ones I watch and trust don't pretend they've finished a painting in 30 minutes; much as I hate to return to poor Bob Ross, as Alan says, everything was done to a formula. He would paint his picture once, taking the time he needed, then copy it in his 30 or so minute vedio, using huge brushes for stippling so he could cover a lot of ground. His son, who sometimes appeared (and was a better painter than his dad) did just the same thing; everything planned to fill the time-slot available.
A painter like Andrew Barrowman, whom I watch, makes no pretence of finishing his pictures in record time; Christian Arnould, another one, shows fast forward demos which are a bit useful, but nowhere near as helpful as a real time vid, and Charles Evans - well known to many of us - does paint in real time, in watercolour and acrylic; be it said, he often re-paints the same scene, which limits the time needed for thinking: but you can't have everything.
I tend to screen out those painters who take us for mugs so can't actually name anyone who does.
There are those of us who really don't like YouTube, and others - like me - who have found many painters there we wouldn't have found otherwise (Andrew Barrowma being one). I do think it's a good educational resource but - it needs to be used with discrimination; a good start there would be to avoid Bob, and his many imitators, and to give the late Wilhelm (Bill) Alexander a wide berth too; old Bill wasn't by any means a bad painter, but he was the original whom Bob R followed, and it was all done to a) fit the TV schedules, b) flog lots of product.
A fair number of painters who write for the the magazines also show on YouTube - Geoff Kersey, for instance; and that, and Patreon, is where Alan Owen hangs out, well worth watching. There are the chancers and duds, or the sincere but not actually very good - I have one in mind: very nice young man, has progressed a lot over some ten years, but I'd never take lessons from him nor encourage anyone else to. You have to be aware of those, and learn to tell one from the other; all part of the learning curve. I'll admit, it's much easier for those of us who have been painting for decades to tell the difference between some who can help us and those who'll just hinder; but I don't think there's any way around that.
Posted
I’ll be checking those names out Robert, thanks. Wondered if you can check out Renso art on there, and tell me what you think? Definitely not a hair painter. Perhaps because of the speed. Started painting the same as him because I just thought it was the way to go. Still doing the same principle, though a little less mixing
Posted
But why do people watch other people being creative their way? Any demos I have been to I usually go to sleep behind my eyes.
To me being creative is all about how you do it...not how you are told how to do it... ok tips and techniques I understandb.
I love a group of people all in the same space looking at the same model, the same view and every single painting is differen, that is creativity.
Though give the guy his due Bob Ross he could create money.
Posted
We'll all have our own reasons - a lot of people apparently watch Ross because his voice DOES send them to sleep; ASMR they call it, I've forgotten what those letters stand for; I think the last one might be "relaxation" - it does seem to work, too. There may not be much/any creativity in watching someone else paint, but if they're any good, it does often inspire me to whip the brushes out.
I shall look for Renso art; one I've not encountered yet.