Bob Ross, 52; Host of PBS’ Popular ‘Joy of Painting’

MUNCIE, Ind. —  Bob Ross, whose unorthodox approach to landscape painting proved a popular if not a critical success in a lengthy run on PBS television stations, is dead.

The bushy-haired art instructor with the soothing, hypnotic voice who urged a nation of viewers to paint “happy little trees,” died of cancer July 4 at 52.

Ross--who could create a painting in less than 30 minutes--died at his home in Orlando, Fla., a spokesman at his base station here announced.

As host of the Public Broadcasting System series “The Joy of Painting,” Ross introduced landscape oil painting to millions.

His show, taped at WIPB in Muncie since 1983, aired on virtually every PBS station in the United States, plus stations in Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, South Korea and Turkey.