Department of Natural Resources - Happy Little Trees Program. Happy Little Trees Program. People around the world are familiar with the work and personality of Bob Ross, the American painter, art instructor and television host who in the ’80s and ’90s shared his love for painting and the environment with millions of viewers on the PBS show, “The Joy of Painting.”. Tags: happy little tree, happy trees smile, tre, happy little tree bob style vintage, save trees, happy trees, happy little retro hiker, happy little tree best 80s retro, gardening, plantlady, save the planet, treesforest, happy little tree bob style, tree bob style vintage, bob, ross, adveture, funny bob rose, happy little tree bob.
Robert Norman Ross (October 29, 1942 – July 4, 1995) was an American painter, art instructor and television host.He was the creator and host of The Joy of Painting, an instructional television program that aired from 1983 to 1994 on PBS in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. Ross subsequently became widely known via his internet presence. Send me photos, or a description of the painting you want brought to life. Together we will determine the medium, canvas, and size that best illustrates this at your price point.
People around the world are familiar with the work and personality of Bob Ross, the American painter, art instructor and television host who in the ’80s and ’90s shared his love for painting and the environment with millions of viewers on the PBS show, “The Joy of Painting.” Ross was known for demonstrating seemingly simple brushstrokes that brought gorgeous landscapes – full of happy little trees – to life on the canvas.
During the Michigan state parks centennial in 2019, the DNR Parks and Recreation Division pitched a partnership idea to Bob Ross Inc. to help raise awareness of forest protection efforts to help expand the division’s stewardship efforts. The program is now known as Happy Little Trees.
Through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections, seeds are placed in the care of inmates in one of the department’s correctional education programs where inmates learn horticultural practices and help raise new trees for replanting. Collection of local native seeds is key to growing trees, shrubs, grasses and plant products for use in state parks within the same geographical region to provide the best opportunity to survive and to emulate local plant communities.
The program has produced more than 100,000 native plants, shrubs and trees since its start in 2004. With support from the Bob Ross partnership, more than 2,100 trees have been planted in 20 state parks across Michigan. The U.S. Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Chateau Grand Traverse also have provided significant support for the program. Visitors to state parks where trees have been planted will see bright green “Happy Little Trees Ahead” signs to note the program’s important contributions.
The partnership between the DNR and Bob Ross Inc. involves hundreds of volunteers planting trees, thousands of 5K race participants raising funds and awareness and lots of “happy little trees” throughout Michigan.
Despite the fact that he died in 1995, there's been a huge Bob Ross renaissance over the last several years. The 'happy little trees' painter who delighted viewers and aspiring artists with his PBS show The Joy of Painting, which ran from 1983 to 1994 and currently streams on YouTube and Netflix, remains a quiet, kindly, comforting presence for all who tune in. Ross' guest stars were usually some form of wildlife, including birds, squirrels, and raccoons that he rescued and nursed back to health, but occasionally, he welcomed his son, Steve Ross, as a guest instructor. According to TwoInchBrush.com, Steve appeared in thirteen episodes of The Joy of Painting, including the final episode during which he read viewers' questions to his father as he painted his final televised painting. Like Bob, the younger Ross had his own head of iconic head of hair and encouraging teaching style, making him a fan favorite.
Steve Ross, like many others, became a Certified Ross Instructor, a program that still exists today for anyone who is interesting in learning the painting and teaching techniques Bob Ross made famous on The Joy of Painting. Although Steve doesn't appear to have his own website, he continues to be a fan favorite, judging from a 2012 tribute video available on YouTube entitled Tribute to Steve Ross (son of Bob Ross) aka Tumblr's Sex God that features 'favorite lines and innuendos' compiled from Steve's Joy of Painting appearances.
Steve is carrying on the family business and tradition. Per The Daily Times of Blount County, Tennessee, in March of 2020 Steve spent a week in residence at the Blount County Public Library, holding painting classes and, in a throwback to his PBS days, giving a public painting demonstration during which he took audience questions. When asked what it was like to see the impact his father had had on people's lives, Steve responded that it was 'wonderful! That's what keeps me in this.' It's nice to know that a Ross continues to spread the gospel of the happy little trees to one and all.