Even if you don’t know a lick about oil painting, chances are you know who Bob Ross is—or you’d at least recognize him. Arguably one of the most well-known painters in North America, Ross was a regular sight on PBS in the 1980s and early ’90s, the creator and host of The Joy of Painting. As its title suggests, the series—and Ross—were characterized by a gentle and tranquil mien, amplified by the painter’s chill appearance, with his signature bushy perm and head-to-toe denim that gave off amiable, post-hippie vibes.

The new Owen Wilson movie Paint is not actually about Bob Ross, per se, but the genial painter and his work inspire it. Starring Wilson, Michaela Watkins, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ciara Renée, Paint centers on Carl Nargle, a Vermont public-TV painter who is convinced that he has it all—until a younger, better artist comes along to burst his bubble.

Of course, a movie about a painter needs art, and when filmmaker Britt McAdams was trying to find an artist who could paint in a similar Bob Ross style, he landed on Rebecca Schwartzstein (BFA 2016 Fine Arts).

The connection was made in 2021 through simple peer-to-peer alumni connections. “A fellow graduate from SVA knew of this opportunity and referred me to the studio,” she says. “They were looking for an artist who could mimic Bob Ross’s style to create artwork that would be heavily featured in the film. The art director and prop master contacted me to discuss the project. Wilson’s character would be painting on his public television show for his adoring fans, completing the landscapes I made for the film.”

Schwartzstein had discussions with different crew members to figure out what the expectations would be for the paintings, which ultimately totaled 17 works. “I was given directions for some and looser concepts for the majority of paintings. Almost every painting was a landscape of Mount Mansfield in Vermont, which Wilson’s character was obsessed with. Like Bob Ross, I had to depict various seasons and times of day but stick to that one subject.”

Some of the paintings Schwartzstein made were fully complete; others were left unfinished for Wilson’s character to execute on film. She was even asked to intentionally paint an inferior quality version to seem as though one of his fans painted it.

To plan out the paintings, “I was given director’s notes, photo references of the mountain, snapshots from the set, as well as the script to interpret specific lines talking about a particular painting that I had to match,” she says. “I would say I had artistic freedom with the paintings, as long as they adhered to the general guidelines of what was needed for the film.”

The only portrait in the batch was one of actress Michaela Watkins, which posed to be one of the biggest challenges of the project.

“I am a portrait painter, but combining the quick, effortless movements of Ross’s landscapes with my detail-oriented portraiture was a bit difficult,” Schwartzstein says. “I received photographs of props, fabric samples and shots of Watkins posing for the portrait. I had to make several revisions to get the perspective they wanted and accurate colors and lighting.”

However, the biggest challenge of it all was the speed with which the film production suddenly needed the paintings. This seemed apropos, given how quickly Ross was known for completing his works. “I only had days to complete this [Watkins] painting, between receiving the canvas to its delivery on site.”

In under two weeks, Schwartzstein completed all 16 paintings. Over a year later, she was asked to make one more for the film during post-production.

“I have never had an opportunity like this before, and I am very grateful that I am able to add this to my portfolio. I could watch hours and hours of The Joy of Painting for inspiration, which is always a plus,” she laughed.

Schwartzstein is currently a working artist and high-school art teacher. She started Rebecca Marie Studio as a live wedding and portrait painter and more of her work can be found at @RebeccaMarieStudio. Paint opens in theaters this Friday, April 7. Check out the new trailer below, as well as some of the paintings Schwartzstein created for the film.

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