Tools & Colors - Everything needed to paint like Bob Ross (2024)

Bob Ross uses only a handful of tools and colors on his television show 'The Joy of Painting'. Below you can find a short description for each of the basic ones. For best results we recommend using the original Bob Ross colors and tools, but we list cheaper alternatives too.

If you want to get all the basic tools and colors at once we can strongly suggest getting the Bob Ross Master Paint Set, paint thinner and some canvases. The Master Paint Set contains oil colors, a landscape knife, a landscape brush, a background brush, a fan brush, a script liner, and a thirty minute "Bob Ross, Getting Started" DVD. These are great products specially designed for Bob's wet-on-wet-technique. You can find a detailed review of the Master Paint Set here.

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These are the tools that are definitely needed to paint with Bob's wet-on-wet-technique. In addition to them you just need a bucket or trash can, paper towels and maybe some old clothes or a painting apron.
An easel is not necessary if you are just starting out. You can just mount your canvases to the wall or to a ladder using some standard office clamps. But be sure to put some cardboard or paper in between the painting and the wall.

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This one is the most used brush on the 'Joy of Painting' television show. Bob uses it to create all kind of things, from clear skies and stormy clouds to big ol' trees and cute little bushes.
It is recommended to use natural hog hair bristle brushes, as their unique characteristics are needed for Bob's technique. Be careful to only use an artist's brush, and not one for painting walls. While a One Inch Brush might come in handy it is not necessary when trying to keep a budget.

Bob uses this brush to add highlights to some happy little trees or big fluffy clouds, or paint whole forests with just a few strokes of his hand.
It is most important that this brush is very springy and firm, or the desired effects will be very hard to recreate.

Used to create mighty mountains and beautiful river banks Bob always tells us do just let this knife to the work.
While it is possible to use just plastic tools it is sometimes better to have a little bit of weight from a metal blade and a wooden handle.

This brush is used to add little sticks and twigs to mighty old trees, foam and highlights to waves in seascapes and of course to sign the finished paintings.
Because of the rather few times this brush is used we recommend to get a cheaper option.

Of course every painting needs a canvas. While Bob uses a standard 18" by 24" stretched and double primed canvas any aspect ratio will work. Please notice that Bob's wet-on-wet technique will not work on canvas paper.
We just list a few options here, be sure to choose one that makes you happy.

Remember: thin paint sticks to thick paint. Used not only to thin paint before applying highlights or signing finished paintings this paint thinner is also used to clean our brushes. But be sure to beat the devil out of them before continuing your masterpieces.
It is very important to use odorless thinner if you are working inside.

Since Bob likes to mix his paints on his palette it was necessary to have a bigger one made for the show.
We would suggest either getting the big one or not using a palette at all, since the standard ones are just too small for this technique and you'll end up being a mud mixer.

Bob likes to use a very firm paint which really helps creating his amazing effects when doing mountains or bushes or clouds because with them he is less likely to become an old mud mixer.
Since the licensed products are a little bit more expensive than most beginner oil paint sets there is absolutetly no harm in just getting the cheaper alternatives.

Liquid White and rarely Liquid Black are used as a base coat in Bob's wet-on-wet-technique to make for easier blending when creating skies or rivers.
While you can get Liquid White and Liquid Black as finished products you can also make them yourself by mixing white or black oil paint with odorless paint thinner.