The Center for Women’s Studies and the Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives hosted a “Paint with Bob Ross” event on Thursday, Jan. 29. Dozens of students sat around tables painting and chatting with one another. Everyone seemed to enjoy the night, with some participants vigorously following the painting tutorials stroke for stroke, while others dabbled in more abstract experimentation.
First-years Sofia Golab and Sophia Fryer gravitated to the event to take a break from schoolwork and stress.
“After a long day of classes, it is nice to unwind and have a couple hours to paint. Everyone is very welcoming in the Women’s Center,” Fryer said. “It is the perfect activity to do with friends.”
Senior Oscar Brown helped organize the event and touched on a similar motivation of giving students respite from the day-to-day grind of college classes.
“I know people like arts and crafts because it’s a great way to get your mind away from schoolwork and academics which can be very draining,” Brown said.
Brown wanted to host a unique arts activity for Colgate University students. Having grown up with Bob Ross, Brown thought his tutorials would make for good community bonding.
“This year I have been really trying to focus on fun and quirky events. I have noticed that people like things that are a little bit offbeat, especially because Colgate is an isolated campus. It’s fun to have things where you are like, ‘wow, I’ve never heard of that before,’” Brown said.
Channeling the soft-spoken, serene and encouraging style of Ross, the event cultivated a stress-free atmosphere where students could relax, paint and get to know each other.
“I actually did not even plan to paint and then [my friend] forced me to and it was therapeutic. I feel a lot better,” Golab said.
Not only an entertaining pastime, the Bob Ross tutorials give students an easy talking point and conversation starter.
“It can be hard to just walk up to someone and start having a conversation, but these events are a great way to break the ice and have some kind of common interest that everyone is bonding over. In this instance it is, can I put the paint on right so that it looks like a tree, or is it just gonna look like a blob?” Brown said.
The brand and uplifting presents of Ross strongly align with the values of LGBTQ+ Initiatives.
“Bob Ross is a very safe space for people. He is very friendly and personable,” Brown said. “Ross is one of those celebrity figureheads who does promote inclusivity. This is a great event for queer allies and straight folks to all come together and bond over something that is really fun.”
Brown explained how the event is important for building a strong, inclusive community and creating a space where everyone is welcome.
“Our emphasis on being queer-inclusive becomes so much more important for queer students on campus, where they are not sure where and who they can come out to all the time,” Brown said. “Making sure that queer students know they have a place and an opportunity to meet supportive others can be really impactful and lead to a really wonderful experience.”
