On what would have been his 78th birthday, fans and fellow painters are honoring the life and legacy of the great Bob Ross. One of the world's most talented and popular artists in recent history, Ross is very famous for hosting The Joy of Painting for many years, teaching his techniques to aspiring painters in a calm, soothing way. Sadly, Ross was only 52 years old when he passed away from lymphoma in 1995, but even a quarter-century past his death, the legendary artist's memory continues to shine very brightly.

Commemorating his birthday, the official YouTube account for Ross has just uploaded a tribute video for Bob Ross, titled "Keeping the Bob Ross Dream Alive: Happy Birthday Bob!" The video features many Certified Ross Instructors from all over the world, all of whom continue to teach "the Bob Ross technique" to budding painters everywhere. After showcasing a large variety of painters honoring Ross by creating new artwork in his style, the video concludes with a brief clip of Ross from The Joy of Painting.

"God bless, and I'll see you next time," Ross states as he finishes up another one of his paintings.

Additionally, a Joy of Painting marathon has also begun streaming on Ross's Twitch channel. Along with streaming one classic episode of the show after another, the marathon will also include trivia, giveaways, and other fun moments for fans to appreciate. Those watching along can also chat with other Twitch users if you want to turn Bob's birthday marathon into a social experience. The event also includes a sneak peek at the Bob Ross Experience, an exhibit devoted to the artist that opens in Muncie, Indiana this weekend.

Because he's been featured prominently in different forms of media in recent years, Ross is still just as popular as ever. Ryan Reynolds famously spoofed The Joy of Painting for a scene in the 2018 sequel Deadpool 2, which was one of the most successful movies of the year. He has also been parodied on other shows like Family Guy and The Boondocks. His likeness has also been used for various merchandise in recent years, such as a NECA action figure, a Bob Ross: The Art of Chill board game, and even a Chia Pet.

In 2015, Ross was reintroduced to a younger generation when Twitch hosted a nine-day marathon of The Joy of Painting, pulling in a staggering 5.6 million viewers. As it was clear that millions of people still absolutely adore the late painter, a YouTube channel featuring the classic episodes was launched, earning over a million subscribers within its first year. Episodes from the series were also used by Netflix to launch the Ross series Beauty Is Everywhere.

You can check out The Joy of Painting marathon on Twitch, and to see the video tribute from the Certified Ross Instructors, you can also visit the official channel for Bob Ross on YouTube. Any aspiring painters hoping to learn the Bob Ross technique for themselves can call 1-800-BOB-ROSS to find a Certified Ross Instructor in their area, or they can visit the Bob Ross official website.