Donald Keough, News Editor–
As brushes swept across canvases in the Hoaglin Wellness Center, students worked intensely on renditions of a landscape.
An episode of “The Joy of Painting” by Bob Ross played over the projector, and although keeping up with the video’s pace wasn’t easy at times, students agreed that it was calming.
Ross, who died in 1995, was a painter, art instructor, and television host, best known for the painting show that the students were following, which aired from 1983 to 1994.
“His videos are always really relaxing, and I like the idea of scenic landscapes,” Aly Marshall ‘27 said.
Marshall was one of eight students who attended the event on Feb. 5, and over the course of the night they painted a depiction of a mountainous landscape along the water.
Most of the students who attended said that they don’t paint often. But Marshall said that every once in a while she’ll “do it for fun.”
“It was relaxing,” Olivia Amlin ‘27 said. “I think it’s sometimes easier to just do it by yourself… but it’s also fun to have guidance.”
Even though keeping up with Bob Ross was difficult, Amiln also said that it was a good way to destress from the semester.
The event was run by Carlena Hall ‘25, a wellness ambassador for the Hoaglin Wellness Center. Hall also started the Bob Ross paint nights.
“[The event] happens about every other week. I was going to do it once a month, but then people really loved it,” Hall said.
There were about 25 students at the first event according to Hall. She also mentioned that many of the younger classes, like freshmen, come more often than members of the older classes.
“I feel like the younger grades really like it and keep coming back,” Hall said. “I don’t know if they’re looking for things to do or just painting classes, but…. I feel like the demand is there.”
Hall was inspired to start hosting the paint nights because of her past experiences with painting. She said that she has always loved painting, and she often paints in her free time.
“It’s very relaxing, and I specifically love landscape paintings,” Hall said. “And I love Bob Ross. I think he’s really optimistic and a very calming character. So I think it can be nice to do [this] in a very stressful college environment. It’s the epitome of mindfulness, because you… don’t think about anything else for 30 minutes or 45 minutes, which might seem stressful, but I also feel like most of the time during the day, we’re thinking of a million things. So it’s kind of nice to be able to focus your mind on something else and use a different creative side of your brain.”
The paint night is also supported by the Hoaglin Wellness Center, which provides resources that are provided to students free of charge.
“I think it’s cool to give people this outlet where they wouldn’t have it usually, especially with… the Bob Ross art supplies and really good funding to get nice stuff that people can’t just [have] in their dorms. I don’t know what other organization I’ll be a part of in my life where I can just do something like this.”
In addition, she also believes that events like this can be important for students.
“I think a lot of students would relate, but so much of my life and the things I’m a part of, like extracurriculars, or even my schooling itself, is about very serious issues and very emotionally taxing things… So to do something like a Bob Russ painting night is almost out of character for me [and uses] a very different side of my brain… I think that’s also the beauty of it: it’s just for fun.”
Although she said that managing the event can be hectic, she said that she enjoys meeting new students, and that she’s grateful to be doing these painting nights.
“The event itself is, I wouldn’t say de-stressing, but fun,” Hall said. “I also do the painting on my own time… and I’ll just sit there and do the painting. Which is like a dream come true to me. If I could do that for the rest of my life, I would.”
