Bob Ross Alive at Paint Night
Students enjoyed an evening of painting inspired by Bob Ross (Photo Sam Shourds/The Gettysburgian).
By Sam Shourds, Contributing Writer
Last Friday, September 7, a downpour ensued as 60 plus Gettysburgians gathered outside the Attic for a famous Gettysburg College Paint Night. Participants were promised “painting materials, mocktails and cheese” while they painted along with beloved American painter, Bob Ross.
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) planned the event with two seatings, one from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and another from 9 to 10:30 p.m., accommodating 60 painters each. Prospective painters arrived up to 40 minutes early to ensure their place at a canvas. One such painter was Danielle Sicotte ‘22, who commented that she was “feeling excited” and “looking forward to relaxing with Bob Ross.”
Upon entering the venue, participants were greeted by CAB members serving sparkling grape juice, various cheeses, crackers, and grapes at the bar. The atmosphere was filled with eager painters and Bob Ross enthusiasts sporting Bob Ross socks, shirts, and occasionally his full-on signature hair and beard.
Within minutes, everyone was seated and ready to paint. And paint, they did! Throughout the 27 minute session, the painters caressed their canvases, beat the devil out of their brushes, and painted various happy little clouds and trees. The spirit of Bob Ross was very much alive, and the painters were brought together by a shared appreciation for Ross’s talent and inherent relaxing nature.
Overall, spirits were high as Gettysburgians left the Attic with their paintings of Mountain Ridge Lake.
Maura McCarney ‘21 came out of the event with “a newfound love for Bob Ross,” saying, “I love to do painting nights like that, so I had a great time!”
Others, while contemplating throwing their work into puddles, decided that the piece of artwork they created represented the journey, and remembered that, as Bob Ross said, “We don’t make mistakes. We have happy accidents.”
