{"product_id":"happy-clouds-happy-trees-the-bob-ross-phenomenon-9781617039959","title":"Happy Clouds, Happy Trees: The Bob Ross Phenomenon","description":"Readers will know Bob Ross (1942-1995) as the gentle, afro'd painter of happy trees on PBS. And while the Florida-born artist is reviled or ignored by the elite art world and scholarly art educators, he continues to be embraced around the globe as a healer and painter, even decades after his death. In \u003ci\u003eHappy Clouds, Happy Trees\u003c\/i\u003e, the authors thoughtfully explore how the Bob Ross phenomenon grew into a juggernaut. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAlthough his sincerity in embracing democracy, gift economies, conservation, and self-help may have left him previously denigrated as a subject of rigorous scholarship, this book uses contemporary art theory to explore the sophistication of Bob Ross's vision as an artist. It traces the ways in which his many fans have worshiped, emulated, and parodied him and his work. His technique allowed him to paint over 35,000 paintings in his lifetime, mostly of mountains and trees in landscapes heavily influenced by his time in the Air Force and stationed in Alaska. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe authors address issues of amateur art, sentimentality, imitation, boredom, seduction, and democratic practices in the art world. They fully examine Ross as a painter, teacher, healer, media star, performer, magician, and networker. In-depth comparisons are made to Andy Warhol and Thomas Kinkade, and mention is made of his life in relation to Joseph Beuys, Elvis Presley, St. Francis of Assisi, Carl Rogers, and many other creative personalities. In the end, \u003ci\u003eHappy Clouds, Happy Trees\u003c\/i\u003e presents Ross as a gift giver, someone who freely teaches the act of painting to anyone who believes in Ross's vision that this is your world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University Press of Mississippi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/21\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781617039959\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 200\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.01lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.00d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2014 pg. 83\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/01\/2014 pg. 598\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Kristin G. Congdon, Doug Blandy, Danny Coeyman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43075519381685,"sku":"9781617039959","price":25.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_49ded202-45cc-4f80-8a3a-137602b5dfa6.jpg?v=1691467878","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/happy-clouds-happy-trees-the-bob-ross-phenomenon-9781617039959","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}