Episode 702- Painting and Flowers
J interprets a Bob Ross original Painting- “Trace of Spring” - at the Original Bob Ross Studio inside the Bob Ross Experience on the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens Campus in Muncie Indiana on this episode of “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom” - Painting and Flowers!
In this episode of “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom” - I interpret an original Bob Ross painting (“Trace of Spring” - Season 26 - Episode 5- You can watch this Episode of the Joy of Painting on Youtube here! ) via flowers in the Original Bob Ross Studios (where Bob filmed Season 2 through 15) inside The Bob Ross Experience- on the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens Campus in Muncie Indiana. Visit The Bob Ross Experiene - and learn more here! Plus I get Flower Water Colour painting tips from my flower friend, artist and instructor- Eric Santoli and Joan and I whip up a Happy Trees Cocktail. (Get the Happy Trees Cocktail Recipe here!)
Of course- J starts with Happy Little Trees- a Signature of Bob Ross… that are featured prominently in the “Trace of Spring Painting!
I get the remarkable opportunity to visits the Bob Ross Studio in Muncie, IN inside The Bob Ross Experience- on the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens Campus - on Bob Ross Birth Anniversary no less- October 28, 2024! My amazing flower friend Joan Kowalski hosted me and the Life in Bloom Crew-and provided this Once in a Lifetime opportunity! Joan allowed me to select one of the Bob Ross Original Paintings that was created in Season 26- Episode 5- “Trace of Spring”…. Joan was so kind to send documents of all the Paintings Bob had created on The Joy of Painting- and I got to pour over them- one by one and select the one that I felt would translate best into flowers. Little did I realize that there is really only ONE Painting where Bob featured an abundance of flowering bushes and plants- along with his is trademark Landscapes - and of course, Happy Little Trees. The crew came together on Bob Ross’ Birth Anniversary October 28, 2024… and the Curators of the Museum placed the “Trace of Spring” in the iconic place on the very easel that Bob used to create his series- in this studio. The Studio is inside a house that was donated by the Ball Family- the same ones that created the Iconic Ball Jars for Canning. It’s incredibly iconic- and at the same time this seemed almost too good to be true!
Painting and Flowers go hand in hand… here’s a sample of Eric and J’s Work- in the “Life in Bloom” Garden- THANK YOU Eric for the great education and inspirational experience!
When visiting you can visit the Minnetrista Museum- and exhibitions about the art of canning and canning artifacts. I have another episode coming up in Season 7 about my visit to Minnetrista and the Art of Canning! Stay Tuned. The home is small and quaint- and of course SO Iconic… honestly I was almost undone- about being able to stand where Bob actually stood- and ‘beat the devil out of “ his brushes… to make a flower arrangement inspired by one of his Paintings.
Joan joins me to talk about the process- and then you are able to watch as I create this arrangement- and interpret this Bob Ross Original painting with flowers. You have to see it- to believe it.
Joan and the Bob Ross Archive were so kind to provide us actual footage from the episode where Bob Ross created this painting to pair with the Flower Arranging… it makes for a Once in a Lifetime experience… when I watch it… I’m amazed… so grateful and thankful for this opportunity!
Eric is SO EXCITED about his Flower Crown - when he visited J in the “Life in Bloom” garden to share his expertise in Water Colour Flower Painting… Thanks for joining us in the Garden Eric!
Then I’m joined in the Garden with my New Flower Friend- Eric Santoli- Eric is an accomplished water colour artist- educator and instructior- that shares his amazing experience of being an Artist In Residence at Monet’s Garden in Giverny France. What an incredible experience - I was so touched to get a letter from Eric- sharing his experience and also asking if I would ever consider him as a guest on Life in Bloom. This was the perfect opportunity and Eric is a great guest- plus he taught me so many valuable tips about my favorite paint medium- Water Colours! Eric continues to travel, visit, educate and instruct Plein Air Art Experiences… all over the world… You can follow him on Instagram.com/EricPleinAir or learn more about him at this website- EricSantoli.com - This is a great way to experience Eric’s Techniques for painting flowers in water color that he shared with me in the Life in Bloom Garden.
J and Flower Friend Joan- whip up a “Happy Trees Cocktail”- an original recipe from Joan- that she shared with J at the APT Fall Marketplace in 2023!
My Wonderful Friend Joan- joins me to arranges Hydrangeas- in the Original Bob Ross Studio- inside the Bob Ross Experience… and we also mix up a Bob Ross Inspired Cocktail that Joan shared with me…. at the American Public Television Fall Marketplace in 2023! The #flowercocktailhour recipe is in my blog- and also available in a Wonderful PDF- like all #flowercocktailhour and #recipesinBloom featured on Life in Bloom in download form to all Paid Subscribers to uBloom.com! You can join here for only $7.95 a month or $79.95 a Year!
The “Happy Little Trees” cocktail- courtesy of my Flower Friend- Joan… THANK YOU and Cheers to Bob Ross!
I hope you enjoy this Once in a Lifetime Experience- at the Bob Ross Studio- and learn more from my Flower Friend Eric- about painting flowers- and mixing up a Happy Trees Cocktail on this Episode of “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom” - Painting and Flowers- WATCH HERE!