Quick Lazy River. Painting #61. A Bob Ross Speed Painting.
Date Painted: March 18, 2019
Size: 16 x 20 canvas
Quick Lazy River is painting #61. It was a speed test, hence the name of the painting and post. This Bob Ross speed painting challenged me to keep pace with the master himself.
I revisited Bob Ross’s Lazy River episode—but this time, I challenged myself to paint it as fast as I could. The first time I tackled this scene, it was on a smaller canvas and took about 45 minutes. This version, painted live on Twitch, stretched to about an hour. Bigger canvas, same time crunch. A look back at the first Lazy River.
This painting is from S2E10 of the Joy of Painting.
Materials
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
- Yellow Ochre
- Don’t forget the Liquid Hwite!
Equipment
Notes From the Easel
Even having done the scene before, keeping pace with Bob is nearly impossible. There’s not much complexity in the composition, but the speed he works at is deceptive. It’s one thing to follow along—it’s another to match his rhythm. I’ve found that painting your own scene, without trying to mirror his every stroke, can actually be faster. You’re focused on the canvas, not the clock.
And speaking of that, at one point, I lost my place and actually got ahead of Bob. I realized I wasn’t following the episode anymore—so I shut it off and went off script. That’s when the fun started. There’s something freeing about letting go of the tutorial and just painting.
Technique Notes & Tips
Over time, I’ve learned to use less paint in the background foliage. You want it dark, but not thick. The highlight layer is where you want the paint to be rich and textured. Bob’s golden rule is: “Thin paint sticks to thick paint.” But I’ve found the reverse can work too—thick paint can stick to thin paint, especially when the base layer is lean and firm. It reduces the risk of mixing mud. In the traditional art world, this is known as fat over lean.
If you’re looking for a Bob Ross speed painting tutorial that tests your brush control and timing, this one’s a great start. It’s also a good one to practice foliage highlights. Give it a shot and let me know how it turns out.
Here’s the time lapse I made.
If you want to see more behind-the-scenes painting, artisan crafts, and studio experiments, check out my social media, YouTube, and Twitch. I stream regularly and post updates on new pieces, techniques, and creative detours.
Happy painting!