This week, as I was scrolling through LEGO Ideas I found three ideas inspired by Bob Ross, the legendary painter from the 1980’s TV show “The Joy of Painting.” A lot of people tuned in not just to learn about painting, but for his uplifting words and a calming atmosphere. The phrase “happy little trees” is a classic! Two Bob Ross-themed ideas are up for review to become official LEGO sets, and one is super close to hitting 10,000 votes and could really use your support.
Bob Ross: Studio & Paintings
This idea includes a TV studio with film cameras, clipboards, and time tiles, along with a wall for his paintings. It’s super interactive and opens up tons of options. I really like the idea of interacting with the paintings or using new LEGO pieces to make my own creation. As of October 2024, the project is being reviewed to see if it becomes an official LEGO set.
Bob Ross was an American painter and art instructor who created and hosted The Joy of Painting, a popular instructional television program. He is known for his wet-on-wet oil painting technique.
As a nature lover who likes to draw and paint, Bob Ross is truly an inspiration. I admire his passion, reassuring voice, and limited selection of tools and colors. With this in mind, I created the ultimate Bob Ross experience in LEGO.
Step into the shoes of a real artist, like Bob Ross. Enjoy (brick)painting 6 famous paintings in the detailed studio, displaying them in several ways, and rolling the camera.What makes this set special?
- Recreate 6 famous paintings: Mountain Retreat, Misty Waterfall, Winter Night, Campfire, Sunset and Winter Solitude.
- Play: Become an artist like Bob Ross, a director rolling the camera with built-in lights to recreate the TV studio environment, or a gallery guest.
- Multifunctional display options: Attach paintings on the brick-built wall (and adjust their position as you prefer), place them on a table as picture frames, or hang them on a real wall.
- Creative painting techniques: Ice cream scoops as waterfall splashes or baby bottles as paint tubes. There are many more fun parts and techniques to replicate painting textures and details!
- Detailed art studio with exciting The Joy of Painting references: a movie clipboard and tiles with numbers showing how much time Bob has left for the show.
- 3 printed paintings of Mountain Retreat with some happy little trees: 1 as a template for Bob to copy, 1 on camera, and a 3rd after the show for use in instructional materials.
“This is a happy place; little squirrels live here and play.” Do you spot Peapod the squirrel?
Piece count: 1234
Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting
This idea brings to life the painting “Mountain Retreat,” it has a cabin with mountains in the back and a river in front. It’s in 3D, making you feel like you’re actually in the artwork. You can spot animals hiding in the trees, and there’s even an 80s-style TV featuring Bob Ross in his studio. As of September 2024, the project is under review to see if it will become an official LEGO set.
The 80s gave birth to many popular movies and shows, but none have had the same lasting impact as Bob Ross’ The Joy of Painting. The show has truly survived the test of time and is more popular than ever!
In honor of the show I recreated Mountain Retreat from Season 3, Episode 1 (1984). This painting is one of my favorites for its brilliant use of color, variety of tree techniques, tranquil shoreline, and its cozy cabin. I decided to “find freedom on this canvas” and created a shoreline that extends out to add another layer of perspective to this build. I also added a lot of small details like a waterfall, flower bushes, log bench, and small critters because “this is a happy place; little squirrels live here and play.”
A small 80s style TV is also included where Bob Ross can be displayed in his studio as he paints Mountain Retreat.
I took inspiration from the Starry Night, A-frame cabin, and NES set for this creation. I wish you all happy painting and until next time!
Bob Ross – The Joy of Building
The main part of this idea is a 3D version of Bob Ross’s well-known painting, “Mountain Reflections,” complete with mountains, trees, and clouds. There’s a drawer below for keeping LEGO artist tools. Under the drawer is a quote from Bob Ross: “We don’t make mistakes, just happy accidents.” This piece is perfect for any artist to show off. As of November 2024, it’s just under 4000 votes away from being reviewed.
In a decade of video games, neon colors, pop music, and MTV, Bob Ross stood out as an 80s icon who bucked the trend. Known for his calm, laid-back, and positive demeanor, Bob Ross inspired people to paint through his TV show – “The Joy of Painting”. This set was created as a tribute to the joy that Bob Ross brought to painting and the joy that LEGO brings around the world.
The Main Build
For this build, I wanted to reproduce one of Bob Ross’s paintings from “The Joy of Painting”. I chose “Mountain Reflections” from season 12, which aired in 1987. I selected this particular painting because it includes many of Bob Ross’s signature elements including big snowy mountains, colorful bushes, fluffy clouds, reflective water, and, of course “happy little trees”.
I was inspired by prior LEGO sets “The Starry Night” and “The Great Wave”. However, rather than creating a relatively flat “painting,” I wanted to extend it into a 3D world. Bob Ross didn’t paint existing landscapes; instead, he created his own worlds and brought you into them with each brushstroke. In the same way, I wanted this build to bring you into the world created in the painting.
The scene is atop a base which also doubles as an art drawer. This drawer pulls out and allows you to store a few of your own brushes, paints and other art supplies.
Additional Components
“I really believe that if you practice enough, you could paint the ‘Mona Lisa’ with a two-inch brush.” – Bob Ross
In addition to the main painting and base, the set also includes a Bob Ross minifigure and a LEGO piece printed with his famous quote, “We don’t make mistakes, we have happy accidents.”
As part of the build, you will also create some of Ross’s favorite painting tools:
- The 2-inch brush – Bob Ross’s most famous painting tool.
- The “fan” brush – Perfect for making happy little clouds and trees.
- The palette knife – For creating mountain ranges and shorelines.
Why Bob Ross?
“You can do anything you want to do. This is your world.” – Bob Ross
Bob Ross is the perfect theme for a LEGO Ideas set. Both LEGO and Bob Ross have inspired millions of people to use their imagination, be creative, and most importantly to have fun while doing it. The quote above demonstrates Bob Ross’s approach to painting but feels just as at home describing how people play with LEGO.
Thank you for checking out my build, and I hope you will consider supporting it.