Bob Ross’ show The Joy of Painting aired on PBS from 1983 until 1994, a year prior to his untimely passing. His sweet and sunny disposition and method of teaching continues to inspire people to pick up a paint brush. Not only does his memory live on in his videos (on the official YouTube channel), but his spirit can be found in the homes of people he encouraged to paint, and on the bodies of those with a Bob Ross tattoo.
“I got a letter from somebody here a while back, and they said, ‘Bob, everything in your world seems to be happy.’ That’s for sure. That’s why I paint. It’s because I can create the kind of world that I want, and I can make this world as happy as I want it. Shoot, if you want bad stuff, watch the news.”
Bob Ross
We could all do with taking a leaf out of Bob Ross’ book, by ignoring the negative comments and getting tattooed (as much or as little) as we please. We can transform our skin to create the kind of imagery that we wish to see on a daily basis – creating happiness through body art and self expression.
The 20 tattoos I have selected feature abstract and kawaii, stylised, and blackwork pieces – they’re a good representation of styles that have exploded in popularity in the 21st century. This evolution of the tattoo industry has allowed tattooers to create the type of art they love so much, and tattoo collectors to get something different to the limited number of styles offered for several decades before.
The Tattooed Archivist 
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