Painting Materials Needed to Paint With Bob Ross and the Wet on Wet Technique.

Painting Materials Needed to Paint With Bob Ross and the Wet on Wet Technique.

Bob Ross is all over the internet these days. Maybe you’ve seen the memes or perhaps you watch him on YouTube to help you fall asleep or some ASMR. You may have even seen other artists paint just like him on YouTube, Twitch, or Reddit. Have you ever wondered what painting materials they use?

You’ve watched Bob Ross create majestic mountains and happy trees reflecting in mirrored lakes with just a few strokes of his brush and want to follow in his foot steps. He makes it look so easy!

So now you’re looking to give it a try yourself and finally decided to take things into your own hands and paint the painting you’re dreaming of for years. (That’s what I did.) Or are you looking for a new hobby that is not only cheap, but incredibly fun and great for your mental health.  If you enjoy and continue on and practice painting can be an easy way to earn money.

I used to watch Bob Ross paint on TV as a child and started painting when I rediscovered him years later. I didn’t expect much from my first painting but I was blown away just how good it came out! My friends and family now call me Bob Ross Junior. You can read all about that first painting here.

Mountain Summit
First Painting

Following is a list of painting materials recommended to get started on your new artistic journey.

Edit

Since this page was published, a Netflix documentary was released that caused quite a stir within the Bob Ross community. Therefore, if you no longer wish to support BRI, I have listed some alternative brands that can be used for this technique.

Bob Ross Master Paint Set

This is the kit that kicked it all off for me and I highly recommend it to get started. The kit includes all the materials you need to paint spectacular masterpieces just like Bob Ross. Getting this kit will eliminate the anxiety of buying the right brushes made of the right materials or the right oil paints with correct firmness or pigment ratios. Everything you need is there and ready to go. 

Bob Ross Oil Colors

If you’re not ready to splurge on the kit, here are the basic Bob Ross colors you will need to paint almighty pictures. These colors are already included in the kit.

Additional Bob Ross Oil Colors

These colors are not included in the master kit and are not required to get started but they are great to have. They will enhance your paintings and help you achieve stunning effects and dazzling highlights to really bring your painting to life.

Alternative Painting Materials for the Bob Ross Technique

Some may find the Bob Ross Kit and individual paint tubes to be a bit pricey. It’s true. While not the cheapest, it is the best stuff to get started and will really give you the confidence to paint more. I do not suggest trying this technique with acrylic paint or really cheap oil starter sets. While you may have fun, you will likely be disappointed. Just being honest.

One alternative brand of oil paints that does work are Windsor & Newton. Those paints may be the firmest paints that will work for the Bob Ross technique. I have even heard that they’re better. In particular, I find that the Titanium white from W&N works exceptionally well for clouds and snowy mountain highlights.

W&N Oil Paint Starter Set
W&N Titanium White. Make sure you get the Winton version. This is the midlevel price point.

Windsor & Newton.

I’ve heard W&N are a great brand to use for the Alexander/Ross wet on wet technique. Personally, the only color I’ve tried is the Titanium White and I find it to excel for making mountain highlights. It is quite firm which is essential for making clouds and highlights. 

Set of 10 

Burnt Sienna 

Cad Red

Cad Yellow 

Indian Yellow 

Ivory Black 

Alizarin Crimson 

Phthalo Blue 

Phthalo Green 

Prussian Blue 

Sap Green 

Titanium White 

Yellow Ochre 

Gamblin.

This is the brand that Kevin Hill uses for his landscape paintings.I primarily use them for more traditional art and still life paintings I’ve been doing. I could be wrong but I think it’s also the brand Bill Alexander may have used at one point. Either way, Gamblin is a solid brand that will work for this technique and is pretty inexpensive. 

Alizarin Crimson 

Burnt Sienna 

Cad Red 

Cad Yellow 

Indian Yellow 

Ivory Black 

Phthalo Blue 

Phthalo Green 

Prussian Blue 

Sap Green 

Titanium White

Yellow Ochre

Bob Ross Mediums

Off all the materials needed for painting with the Bob Ross style, mediums may be the most crucial to the wet on wet technique. The most important one and one you will probably use 95% of the time is Liquid White.

Alternative Mediums

But what about Liquid White?  Bill Alexander still sells his original formula called Magic White. Bob started out using the Magic White when he was teaching and painting on his show. You can also make your own liquid white by mixing Titanium White and linseed oil in about a 50/50 ratio. You can mix as needed and put it in a little plastic cup or bowl. 

Gesso. There are many, many alternatives to the BRI gessos. You can get white, black, or gray gesso from just about any art store online. 

Bob Ross Brushes

You don’t NEED every brush on this list. The basic ones are included in the master kit. The only other ones I would really suggest you invest in should you continue this hobby is the small knife and filbert. There’s also a full kit option. Every single Bob Ross brush in one kit.

Bob Ross Brush Alternatives. 

Alexander Art. I have not personally used these but they are the brushes that Bob used when he started his show. For the first 6 or 7 seasons, Bob used to use Bill Alexander products before the distribuitor ran into supply issues opening the door for Bob to create his own line of paints and brushes. Bill Alexander brushes are a bit pricey but if you’re looking for the right tools for this job, they are the original tools for the technique. 

Kevin Hill. I own a few of the brushes from Kevin’s line. I have the ¾”, the ¼” and the liner brush. They are excellent! The liner brush is far superior to the Bob Ross liner brush. Far superior. I highly recommend it. 

Additional Materials to Get Started Painting with Bob Ross

If this is your first time painting, you’ll need a few essential items.  The Bob Ross kit doesn’t include everything you need to get started painting. It does include all the brushes and paint you need but in order to paint your own masterpieces you’ll need a few more things. I have you covered however. 

Canvas

Stretched canvas is optimal here. You can paint on many surfaces but if you’re just getting started, I advise you to go with a basic stretched canvas.  Most already come ready to paint on right out of the packaging.  Above all, avoid canvas boards with this technique. Canvas boards tend to soak up the liquid white which is critical for this style of painting. 

Apparently a lot of people use Bob Ross canvases. I’ve used one or two and I found zero advantages to standard cheaper canvases. You can get bulk canvases at many art stores and online. They are perfectly fine for beginner painters. Michael’s often has sales on bulk canvases. 5 Pack

If you want to save yourself the hassle of preparing a black canvas, you can buy them already black. They are called black canvases. Who would have guessed?

Easel

You’ll want a sturdy easel to hold your painting surface. The kit I mentioned above does include a carrying case which I used as a makeshift easel.  Beware if you do this, however.  The canvas is not secure.  You could also lay the canvas flat on a desk or table. With that being said, you don’t require an easel but it sure makes life easier! This easel has been great for me.  I still have it to this day and it’s been wonderful. 

If you’re looking to upgrade and have the extra cash, the official Bob Ross full easel is a decent choice. While it does have some drawbacks, it is a great overall painting station. It can also be detached and used as a table top easel. I’ll be up front with you though, it’s not cheap and honestly, probably not worth the money. I got it at a lot cheaper price.

Here’s another option for your easel needs. A portable, yet sturdy easel that you can also use to carry paint and brushes. I’d say worth every penny.

Palette

The master kit I keep mentioning over and over? There’s a reason.  It really is a great starter kit to kick start your new painting hobby.  You’ll need something to squeeze your paint onto. The kit comes with a small wooden palette. You can squeeze the paint directly onto it. However, if you want to keep your palette clean and smooth, you can put some palette paper on it. If you don’t have the kit, you can use paper plates or a piece of glass or Plexiglas. However, I highly suggest not using paper plates and use a hard flat surface. 

Therefore, a nice large palette will be useful. You’ll need a palette that is big enough to give you sufficient area to mix lots of colors with the knife and big brushes. Plus, a proper palette makes you feel like a REAL artist! It did for me anyway. 

Odorless Paint Thinner

The only small drawback with oil painting is the solvents required. You need to clean your brushes and odorless paint thinner or odorless mineral spirits work the best. To keep it contained, you’ll need a bucket. The Bob Ross company has the perfect thing. This bucket and screen combo will keep your thinner contained and secure. Surely after you clean your two inch brush, you’ll want to beat the devil out of it! But you certainly don’t want to do that in your home. Bob comes through again with a brush beater rack. Put this inside a box or waste basket and you can beat the devil to your heart’s content!

That’s the list!

There you have it! All the painting materials you need to begin your new creative journey with the Bob Ross wet on wet techique! Remember, you don’t need everything at once. That can get pricey. It really does make sense to invest in the Master Paint Set to start out. The kit has the basics you need and will give you the confidence to try it more. It worked for me and changed my life! Who knows where it could take you!

Good luck and happy painting!

4 Replies to “Painting Materials Needed to Paint With Bob Ross and the Wet on Wet Technique.”

  1. I love how you spelled “Hwite” the way Bob pronounced it. This is a good breakfast of all the materials. Thanks.

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