NewsHour fans take the #BobRossChallenge and the results are priceless

Two decades after his death, Bob Ross is still inspiring people to paint happy trees.

That’s what I did a couple of weeks ago while watching the first episode of the “The Joy of Painting” on YouTube. Step by step, Ross gently encouraged me to relax, pick up my brush and bring my canvas to life.

I had so much fun, that we at the PBS NewsHour thought you might, too. We invited you to join us in the #BobRossChallenge and share your finished masterpieces.

Your responses were both impressive and heartwarming. Twitter user @Hunter_Powell posted his “1st ever attempt” at the Bob Ross Challenge:

https://twitter.com/Hunter_Powell/status/661350196811448320

And viewer Nelli Forras emailed us with her Bob Ross-inspired artwork after her husband recently gave her oil paints for her birthday. A friend suggested that she watch “Joy of Painting.”

“I fell in love with the show!” she wrote.

Viewer Nelli Forras submitted her oil painting of mountains set against a star-lit sky for the PBS NewsHour’s #BobRossChallenge. Photo courtesy of Nelli Forras.

In three months, Forras said she completed seven paintings of snowy mountains, red barns, quiet lakes and star-lit skies.

Viewer Nelli Forras recently received oil paints for her birthday, and has been painting along with Bob Ross. This is her submission for the #BobRossChallenge. Photo courtesy of Nelli Forras

“No one believes that I never painted in my life,” she wrote.

And Instagram user @olinselot appeared to pleasantly surprise himself while taking the #BobRossChallenge.

https://instagram.com/p/9pHSAazgAE/?taken-by=olinselot

https://instagram.com/p/9pRt1EzgAQ/?taken-by=olinselot

https://instagram.com/p/9p1F0czgKd/?taken-by=olinselot

Please continue to share your work on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #BobRossChallenge. Happy painting!