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.” 😡

    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.

      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

      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.

          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.

          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.

          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.

          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.

          9 days later

          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.

            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.

                @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.

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

                  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.

                    6 days later

                    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.

                    I've ordered a number of things from Alexander. They are very nice, quick, and not too expensive. I'm staring at one of their complimentary refrigerator magnets with a brush cleaning formula now. 😂

                    (2 parts vegetable oil, 1 part Dawn, ½ part water. Agitate. Use with brush scrubbing grid. Dry with paper towel and form bristles.)

                    Edit: I should mention AA's concern is for non-toxic materials. Though I don't know how they get around using heavy metals for some of the pigments.

                      Lol they sent me the same magnet. I have tried that formula and had to make a few adjustments. I use about 1/2 the soap they recommend. Even tho it’s not concentrated it is still a little much. Trial and error with everything I guess. It does add about 30 minutes of extra work cleaning up. And a whole bunch more paper towels but studio smells fresh. I did keep my paint thinner to use outside when I have a large cleaning process. Just for backup.

                      Ian_Adkins I still don't know much about it but what you said makes sense. I've seen people in the music industry in similar situations who have had their lives turned upside down by those who are supposed to support them. What really gets my goat is that massive numbers of people love Bob so much, some have had their lives remarkably enriched by him, others simply want to paint like him, but when they try to follow his videos they are often blocked in the uk on youtube. I ask myself, who is responsible for that? Bob wanted to share! Try dailymotion, they are accessible there if any of you guys are having difficulty accessing his videos. But what annoys me most of all, is that his followers think they are buying "his" products, literally "Bob Ross" paints and brushes, after all, that's what it says on the tin. I suspect they feel that in some way they are supporting him. I know I did to begin with. When you discover this is not the case you do eventually realise that there are other brands you can use. To be honest, I'd be more than happy to buy products from Steve. I have wondered if he has is own range. I just did a quick sweep of the internet but only BRI products seem to be on offer.

                        @TheLandscapePainter - thanks for this information. I have just logged in to it and watched a couple of minutes of Bob. No lock-out! Thanks again. I will spend many happy hours looking through their BR workd

                          TheLandscapePainter I have begun the switch from BR oils to Windsor Newton as part of the Kowalski purge. And actually I think they are firmer or for sure just as firm as the BR brand (as least so far with the three tubes I've opened). Most important of all they are a few dollars cheaper each tube!