Minnetrista is offering an evening of music, community and Bob Ross style painting for adults with After Hours: Happy Little Evening from 6-9 p.m. Friday at LL Ball Home.
Certified Ross Instructor Gini Deaton paints using a style originally taught by Bob Ross, who hosted the instructional TV show "The Joy of Painting," which ran from 1983 to 1994.
Deaton has taught at Hobby Lobby stores around Indiana, but decided to become a Certified Ross Instructor so people would immediately be able to recognize the style of painting she enjoys.
During three weeks of classes at the Bob Ross Art Workshop in Florida, Deaton learned the techniques taught on Ross' show.
"It was a fun three weeks painting with people from all over the country," Deaton said. "The instructors were wonderful. We painted the same paintings and went through the same process that Bob Ross originally set up in the 1980s."
Deaton will sell the paintings she made while earning her certification, and is excited to be demonstrating Ross' style in the same location "The Joy of Painting" was taped.
In the 1980s, the LL Ball Home was a recording studio for local broadcasting station WIPB and and when Ross decided to move the production of his show, he moved from Virginia to Muncie. After moving his show to Muncie, Ross would visit four times a year to tape his show and eventually started taping in the Edmund F. Ball Communication Building at Ball State.
Deaton said Ross' style of oil painting is a great way for beginners to learn how to paint.
"Many of my students tell me they have watched [Bob Ross] all their lives and have always wanted to try it," Deaton said. "People tell me that they can't draw a straight line and I say 'Good, we don't paint any straight lines in my classes.' Everyone walks away with a painting that surprises them at how well they do."
The After Hours event series is held every third Friday during the fall and spring at Minnetrista. This Friday's event will include food from Minnetrista Catering and wine from Belgian Horse Winery. In addition to painting, Paul Reilly, professor of music performance at Ball State, will play classical American, Spanish and Italian pieces on the guitar
"My first hope is that folks can relax and have a great time after a long week of work," said Mason Absher, theatre connections manager at Minnetrista. "Folks around here work hard, they deserve a great break once in a while. I also hope this gives folks an opportunity to connect to someone or something new to them in the greater community."
Contact Nicole Thomas with comments at nrthomas@bsu.edu.
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