First East Coast Exhibit Of Bob Ross Paintings Opens In Loudoun

PURCELLVILLE, VA — He was known for his unabashed joy of painting, and his long-running series on public television. The late painter Bob Ross, who lived in northern Virginia, taught Americans how to paint in 400 episodes of the "Joy of Painting" on public television. His art is on exhibit for the first time on the East Coast now through Oct. 15.

Happy Accidents: An Exhibit of Original Bob Ross Paintings is on display at the Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center in Purcellville. This exhibit, presented in partnership with Bob Ross Inc., offers the chance to view 24 original works created by the artist during his long-running TV series.

While the show opened Sept. 10, an opening reception is planned for 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Ross started painting as a young man after he was transferred to Alaska while serving in the Air Force. Having been raised in Florida, he was captivated by the snow, mountains and nature scenes, according to the arts center. Ross later returned to Florida, but he frequently visited Bob Ross Inc. headquarters in Northern Virginia for business meetings.

He enjoyed antiquing and often found himself in Purcellville, searching through the many antique treasures of western Loudoun. “It’s quite poetic that his first major exhibit would be in Purcellville,” says Joan Kowalski, president, Bob Ross Inc.

The Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center is located at 36441 Blueridge View Lane. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and the exhibit will also be open three weekends: Sept. 28-29, Oct. 5-6 and Oct. 12-13.

While admission is free, tickets are required and the maximum number of daily admissions is limited. Tickets are available at franklinparkartscenter.org.

All tickets are sold out, but there are still ways to see the exhibit.

• Attend the opening reception from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15. There may be a wait for admission and may be directed to park in satellite lots within the park. A shuttle bus will bring visitors needing assistance from satellite lots.
• Purchase tickets to one of the evening performances between now and October 15. You can review the full season on the center's website; the gallery will be open one hour before the performance to view the exhibit.