Milky Way Mountain. Painting #30. A Live Demonstration.
Date Painted: July 7, 2017
Size: 18 x 24 canvas
Milky Way Mountain is my 30th painting since I began the hobby in late 2016. It came to life during a live painting demonstration I did to support my organization’s holiday party that year.
How It Started
The idea came from a coworker who’d snagged a couple of my earlier paintings (at what we’ll call “introductory pricing,”). He was on the holiday party committee and pitched a fundraiser: I’d do a live painting demonstration during our Friday social, raffle off the finished piece, and the proceeds would go toward the event. I had been with the organization for nearly 4 years and discovered my hidden raw talent a mere 6 months earlier so it was quite surprising for everyone that I was able to do something like this.
Since it was his idea, he went for authenticity and ordered a Bob Ross wig. I took it a step further and pulled a Ross-style shirt from the closet and showed up in full character. At the time, I was on leave from active duty in England, and my beard had grown in just enough to add a little happy authenticity (still a ways off from Bob’s glorious mane, but it worked).
We sold raffle tickets before the event and as I painted. By the end we’d raised nearly $300. The winner was well chuffed. Not just because she scored a painting, but because it was in the style of one of her favorite artists and TV personalities. That’s what you call a happy accident!
The Live Painting Demonstration Experience
Aside from a few Facebook Lives, this was my first time painting in front of a live audience—and it felt surprisingly… natural. No pressure. A little pre-demo excitement, sure, but the nerves weren’t about the crowd. What really had me second-guessing was whether I’d remember how to bring the painting together. I didn’t have a reference—just a loose mental sketch of stars, mountains, and mood.
The setting helped. It was casual: the usual end-of-week gathering, folks chatting with drinks in hand, ping pong and darts in the background. Some stopped by to ask questions or get a closer look. It gave me a little extra exposure too—someone ended up buying a painting not long after.
Process and Challenges
I chose a scene inspired by Starry Galaxy for a reason: the underpainting reveal always gets a reaction, and I wanted to start strong. Black canvas paintings that reveal vibrant color are perfect for live painting demonstrations. But to set this one apart from the other similar pieces, I put in a massive “almighty mountain” into this one—leaning fully into classic Bob Ross terrain but framed against a dark, star-dusted sky.
The trickiest part? Still the splatter. I’m always trying to dial in the ratio between thinner, titanium white, and liquid white so the flecks pop just right off the brush—light, even, and unpredictable in the right way. It’s a surprisingly fussy technique for something meant to look accidental.
I hadn’t perfected the mountain technique either. In my opinion, the paint didn’t break enough on the mountain and looks more like frosting. Yes, we artists are our biggest critics.
Materials Used
Here are the colors and equipment I used to paint Milky Way Mountain. All of the colors are included with the Bob Ross Master Paint Set. I’ll admit, that kit can get a bit pricey. So here is an alternative starter oil paint set. Windsor and Newton is a solid brand. The only thing is it doesn’t come with any brushes or instructions.
Colors
- Alizarin Crimson
- Bright Red
- Cadmium Yellow
- Dark Sienna
- Indian Yellow
- Midnight Black
- Phthalo Blue
- Phthalo Green
- Prussian Blue
- Sap Green
- Titanium Hwite
- Van Dyke Brown
Mediums
Equipment
If you want to save yourself the hassle of preparing the black canvas, you can buy them already black. They are called black canvases. Who would have guessed? You still need the Liquid Clear.
Final Thoughts
When I stepped away from the easel, I was definitely feeling the buzz—relieved it came together, energized by the crowd, and quietly ready to do it again. Just… maybe not that same day.
No plans for a live painting series came out of it (though I did eventually stream on Twitch—but that’s a story for another canvas). Still, this day stands out. A simple office party turned into one of those unexpected intersections of art, community, and cosmic coincidence.
Milky Way Mountain wasn’t just a fundraiser demo—it was a reminder that painting doesn’t have to happen in solitude to be meaningful. The crowd, the costume, the cosmic nightscape—it all blended into one of those rare moments where art, fun, and connection meet on the canvas.
Catch more stories, behind-the-scenes breakdowns or read more reflections like this on the blog. Follow the visual journey in the gallery. For links to all my socials and shops: Linktree.
Until next time, Happy Painting.