Remembering to Have Fun through Art with Bob Ross
“Life is suffering” is one of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism. Whether the English translation of the Buddhist concept of “Dukkha” is exact, the idea of suffering being fundamental to our existence can sound pretty fatalistic. At the same time, it might sound accurate.
People tend to spend a lot of time not being terribly happy. A Gallup poll released in 2021 found that Americans are reaching historical highs in terms of being dissatisfied. In 2001, 10% of respondents indicated they were dissatisfied. That number reached 30% in 2022.
That number might not be surprising given two years of pandemic, political unrest, Google classroom, price inflation, wage stagnation, and uncertainty about the future. A CNN story lists out all the ways we Americans are generally unhappy. Looking at all the data, the author concludes “these numbers are just downright depressing.”
Given the general malaise that people seem to be experiencing, we might ask the question what we can do to find happiness. Such a thought raises the question of when have we experienced happiness in our lives? Or, more simply, what makes us happy.
His Holiness the Dali Lama tackled this topic in his book The Art of Happiness. It is a book I have read, but can’t claim that it stuck. But as the saying goes, it is about progress rather than perfection. In terms of trying to move toward happiness, turns out we are all works in progress. One take-away is that the choices we make are in our control, and in that way we can control our happiness. It is not just a matter of what we do, but how we decide to see ourselves and our lives. Perception is key to whether we allow ourselves to be happy. Our minds hold the key. Freeing ourselves from constraints and being able to see things in new ways is an important part of that journey.
It also turns out that art and being artistic has similar goals in terms of freeing our minds from constraints and seeing the world with new eyes. We might not be surprised to learn that those who engage in art tend to be happier. A lovely blog about painting in hospitals summarizes research that shows “viewing art triggered a surge in dopamine, that happy chemical, into the brain, which results in feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.”
If viewing art makes us happier, what about doing art? An article in Psychology Today lays out the benefits of art as a pathway to happiness. The author talks about how even when exploring painful topics, “people invariably report that art making is a source of joy for them despite that their art communicates.” Thus, the art of happiness may lie in art and happiness.
This doesn’t mean that art will always make you happy. I have seen plenty of artists that looked frustrated and miserable as they toiled over their work trying to find forms that they felt were worthy of the images in their minds. But I never saw Bob Ross express that level of frustration. Rather than mistakes, Bob would talk about “happy little accidents.” There were happy little birds, and happy little trees, and happy little clouds. There were streams, mountains, grass, and sky. It all seemed to co-exist together in harmony, crafted with paint and a palette knife. In those moments of creation were moments of calm, and feelings of happiness.
Whole generations may never know about Bob Ross, having been deprived of the opportunity to see him on public television. Through the work of Joan Kowalski and Bob Ross, Inc., we have more Bob now than when Bob was alive. Created through a partnership between Bob and Joan’s parents, Bob Ross, Inc. continues the work that Bob started back when he was just teaching art classes to small groups of students. New audiences now not only know about the work of Bob, but the importance of art in our lives. As states and school districts cut art programs, Bob’s work reminds us that happy little trees might be the key to happier and longer lives. It is not just a message that Bob told others, but a lesson that he lives in his life and work.
Ultimately, a path to happiness (or at least being happier) may be held right in our hands, one brush stroke at a time.
You can listen to our conversation at
