Steve is back

Ian_Adkins

ForestVueGallery Hopefully it's not just another BRI hagiography like "The Happy Painter," which not only plastered over Bob's humanity, but all the infelicities and treachery leading up to Bob's death and thereafter. I've told everyone to please, please not buy me any Bob Ross-branded gifts at gift-givingtide because I don't want the money going back to BRI.

ForestVueGallery

Ian_Adkins We will know soon enough. Based on a chat I had with a BRI certified instructor many of them are up in arms about this. They’ve invested the time and money to use Bob’s name to instruct, and now feel their supporting the enemy. The instructor said many had contacted BRI about this issue and received no response. Based on things I’ve read this may just set the record straight, and I’m hopeful that Steve will build his own empire now that he is free from the shackles of BRI. Steve’s name and life has been the true casualty in all of this.

Mgiese84

@ForestVueGallery I too was pretty PO'd about the way the Kowalski's treated Bob and his family & friends towards the end of his life and now afterwards. I hope Steve and Dana maybe can combine and continue Bob's work in the way he would have wanted.

ForestVueGallery

Mgiese84 I watched the new Bob Ross documentary on Netflix this morning and I was practically in tears several times. I will watch it again to pick up more detail on the legal portions of it. It didn’t disappoint in making clear that Bob was wronged and Steve was gagged to silence. I sincerely hope that everyone sees this documentary and reacts in the one way we can.

Ian_Adkins

I saw it and after all I could was mutter permutations of the same curse word, because it's just incomprehensible. Now I'm just livid. I would rather put my hand on a hot iron than see a one more single farthing go to BRI. I hope this documentary dents the merch mill a bit.

ForestVueGallery

Ian_Adkins Oh I am so with you on this!! There is an absolute firestorm on the BRI Facebook site in response to a memo BRI posted in response to the documentary. Prepare yourself to curse some more.
https://www.facebook.com/100044183181677/posts/391902142292555/
The first couple of sentences in the memo:
“Bob Ross Inc. takes strong issue with the inaccurate and heavily slanted portrayal of our company in a Netflix film.

If not for the efforts of the remaining founders and their dedication to this mission, Bob’s artistic and cultural relevance would have been lost decades ago with his passing.” 😡

Ian_Adkins

ForestVueGallery Total self-serving jackassery. I didn't scroll all the way down, but there were some choice excoriations that expressed my sentiments exactly.

If there is justice anywhere, this bankrupts BRI and Steve can buy it off Ahab and Jezebel there for $1 and a pack of smokes.

Felix

As you've probably noticed I've stayed silent in this thread. The reason for that is twofold:
I haven't watched the doc yet and didn't do any real research about the whole situation (besides reading the article posted above and some rumours on the net) myself.
On the other hand as the person running this website I'd rather stay out of this topic as much as possible, for obvious reasons.

For everyone that wants to switch to other brands: I'm currently working on a guide that lists alternatives to the BR brand stuff. If you'd like to give your input please visit this thread: https://www.twoinchbrush.com/forum/d/199-alternatives-to-bob-ross-products

Ian_Adkins

Felix I suppose we had all best be circumspect. As the documentary makes clear, lawyers abound. Though being based outside the U.S., you may be somewhat protected from litigation originating here. OTOH, depending on where your servers are or who is routing the traffic, a well-aimed cease-and-desist could be...disruptive.

Sunnylady

I watched documentary just today and I wish all the best to Steve as this is a big war he will need to handle. I hope there is some fund raiser to collect 200k as minimum as legal expense will sky rocket. I hope people will help him to restore him as heir after his Dad.
there are a lot of things in this documentary that require some thinking in retrospect about Bob Ross (as a name and brand) in the last three decades.

RosoLima

My husband and I watched the docu last night. We were glad to see that Bob Ross in the videos is very close to the way he thought and carried himself in real life. But we are utterly dismayed at the treatment of Steve and other fellow artists. In reading the statement the BRI put out on their FaceBook page, it seems they might have agreed to participate in the film if they knew it was going to be distributed by Netflix! In otherwords....had they known the whole world could see it, they might have made different choices.

Forgive my ignorance for not understanding or if I missed this in the film, but can someone tell me why Steve was not notified his uncle was selling his 51% ? Shouldn't a lawyer have let him know? That seems unethical as well.

Anyway, I'm asking all my friends not to buy me funny Bob Ross merchandise anymore. And Felix, I'll look forward to your list of alternative products and appreciate the effort. I really love THIS community but really disappointed in the actions and greed of the Kowalski's. It's not too late for them to do the right thing.

Mgiese84

RosoLima My best guess on the 51% to Steve's 49% is I'm sure a lawyer had to let Steve know what was going on. I, along with several family members, have a couple small businesses in town and regardless of % ownership everyone is in the loop if any major changes would happen. I too am extremely disappointed in how Bob, Steve, Dana, and the whole group was treated. Very sad.

mrdaputer

I am perplexed I have just started to paint. I don't want to support BRI any more and seen the post about alternative supplies. I will use the products I have bought and and let Bob teach me how to paint.

wybnormal

Before the film came out, the Blick's store near me where I had first bought some BR stuff over a year ago had a full end cap of BR paint, brushes, etc,,etc.. Its all gone now.. every piece. I believe its available online but not in the store.

Steve made it clear that while his dad wanted him to take over, Steve wasn't interested in it at all. And freely admits that it was something akin to rebelling against dad. I'm sure we will never get the whole real story of this. Too many colliding interests. And bob was not the only one doing this style of painting. I've found several folks who did the same style or slightly different at the same time and some still do. But Bob had a certain charisma that was unique to him. Alexander has better art I think but he sounds like he's attacking the canvas every time he paints. Robert Warren does more detailed paintings but just doesn't have the same delivery as Bob. Jenkins has great art but again, the delivery is a bit scattered and just not the same.

I'm grateful we have what we do from Bob from "the day" and it's as high quality as it is. Alexanders recordings are not nearly as good and others do not have any available unless you buy them.

StormCat

I just watched the 2021 documentary "Bob Ross Happy Accidents Betrayal and Greed". It was a good documentary but it made me very sad to see how his son Steve and friend Dana ended up. I really feel for both of them.

Ian_Adkins

@Mgiese84 Not every lawyer is so scrupulous as to thwart their client for the sake of "justice." If Uncle Jimmy wanted to sell, the lawyer was likely to do whatever to make it happen. Meanwhile, Steve, by his own admission, was thrown into a deep, lasting depression where even if he was legally advised, wasn't really in the frame of mind to make rational, measured choices. However it happened, he was taken advantage of, and what BRI has done to him, whatever legal rights they may have acquired by hook or crook, is, on a moral level, monstrous. It truly and rightly shocks the conscience. Monsters.

Cronenberg89

Ian_Adkins I 100% agree with you sir. Monsters.....monsters who will never see another dime of my money. So I am relegated to finding replacement supplies now. I would love to see Steve and Dana start their own product line and would definitely buy from them if they did so.

ironchefmitty

Anybody planning on going to the October 2021 workshop? I just signed up for the Friday day.

wybnormal

Alexander Art is pretty much the same items since he was there first 🙂

Happyisland

Hey guys, I looked into Alexander art and I have to say I’m pretty pretty impressed. I purchased some brushes that are really good quality in my opinion. Not very expensive. She (Dawn, office manager) is super kind and knowledgeable. She mailed the products the same day and I received them the next day and not for the expensive cost of traditional next day shipping.

Also, they have a ton of videos and workshops, free ones and priced. I signed up for a 30/month deal that I normally would not, however it gave me wide access to artists I wasn’t familiar with that are very good. So far I’m impressed and satisfied with the expense. It also gives you a discount on product purchases. I have not tried the oils yet (still supplied) but I will. Only downside I can think is they are only available on 37 ml.

Anyway, if you have time spend some time on their site and research if this is an option for you.

take care and happy painting.