The most famous person in the world embodied nature
Finding calm in happy little trees
Dear wildling,
It's so good to see you here. 💖
What happens when the wild meets someone who inspired millions to see the world through gentler, greener eyes? Someone who brought nature's calm and creativity into homes worldwide - and still does, long after his passing?
The most famous person in the world, in my book, is Bob Ross. 🌳
When it comes to spreading a magical mix of kindness, creativity, and a love for the natural world, he's as famous as it gets.
Bob wasn’t just a painter. He was a cultural phenomenon, a gentle soul who welcomed anyone and everyone to join him in art. His kindness - to people, animals, nature itself - was woven into every "happy little tree," every softly rolling mountain.
His TV show “The Joy of Painting” invited viewers to find peace, confidence, and self-discovery through creating. Bob taught us to slow down and notice the beauty around us. He painted something deeper than meets the eye: a connection to nature, even for those who couldn’t step outside.
In the Whispering Wilds method, we talk a lot about inviting nature into our lives, whether we’re outdoors or bringing it into our homes and hearts. Blending nature with mindful, creative practices helps us feel calmer, more connected, and more resilient in difficult times.
Bob's deep love for nature - shown in his paintings, words, and care for injured wildlife - brings us back to the natural community we all belong to. He reminded us that creativity doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be ours. 💚
Bridging Art, Nature, and Humanity
Bob Ross is beloved because...
🌟His wild journey began early. As a boy, Bob cared for injured animals like squirrels and snakes. That compassion stayed with him throughout his life, and small animals often appeared on his show.
🌟He mastered calm. While in the U.S. Air Force, Bob developed his famous quick-painting technique during short breaks. His years in the military taught him discipline, but he vowed to never raise his voice again after leaving the service.
🌟He showed his humanity. He was openly vulnerable on air after the death of his wife, and he encouraged people to challenge their limiting beliefs, as well as build emotional resilience.
🌟Nature was his greatest muse. Bob’s landscapes were inspired by his experiences in Alaska. His iconic landscapes - mountains, lakes, log cabins - reflect his time stationed there. Fun fact: analysis of his show revealed trees in 91% of episodes, clouds in 44%, and mountains in 39%.
🌟He painted with love. Bob created roughly 30,000 paintings in his lifetime but never sold them. Instead, he donated many to PBS or charity auctions.
🌟His legacy lives on. His show transcended cultural divides and geography. It still resonates globally with people of all ages. There are Bob Ross Funko Pop! toys, Magic: The Gathering cards, a Chia Pet, cereal, and a board game. From Twitch streams to an official YouTube channel, Netflix features, and reruns on Hulu and the BBC, Bob Ross continues to inspire new generations.
“I guess I’m a little weird. I like to talk to trees and animals. That’s OK though; I have more fun than most people.” - Bob Ross
The Lessons Beyond the Brushstrokes
Bob’s impact goes far beyond the canvas and the screen. He reminded us that art, much like nature, is for everyone. He showed us how to live with patience, kindness, and connection to the wild.
Creativity is an extension of nature’s gifts. Whether painting valleys, writing about the sea, or humming a tune inspired by the whistle of wind, these moments of exploration are ways to ground ourselves in the natural world we belong to. Creativity inspired by nature invites us to slow down, notice, and feel deeply connected to the world around us and the world within us.
Sharing Bob's love for nature reminds us we’re part of something bigger. Something irrepressible, like a mountain, a river, a "fluffy cloud."
Nature + Art = Wellness
We do more than make art when we create with nature’s inspiration. We engage in self-care that fosters wellness in mind, body, and spirit. Being gentle with ourselves while making something takes away our inner critics' power over our lives.
Art helps us relax. It helps us process. And when we trust nature as our guide, we find endless inspiration and support.
Art, in all its forms, unlocks parts of us that we didn’t even know were waiting to bloom. Everyone can be creative, and creativity is path that leads us to ourselves. You don’t need to be “good” at art to feel its transformative effects. Creating is connection, not perfection. 🌿
Most of us find something natural that takes our breath away and thrills us to our core. We can carry that wonder into creation.
"Look around. Look at what we have. Beauty is everywhere - you only have to look to see it." - Bob Ross
From Grief to Growth
While art is only one of the practices included in the Whispering Wilds method, it's an especially powerful one. It's also one anybody can easily do, even if you don't feel like an artist.
The Whispering Wilds was born from my own creative journey. In the deep grief following my grandfather's passing over 20 years ago, I picked up the digital camera he'd purchased just before his death. My healing began with botanical photography. I examined nature in detail - its mind-blowing textures, intricate patterns, awe-inspiring shapes, and impressive, yet often hidden, systems that make life thrive.
What I saw wasn’t just beauty - it was strength, balance, and inspiration. Nature became my guide to healing.
Later, I gave myself permission to explore other creative outlets like dance, watercolor, and illustration, even though I thought I wasn’t “good” at art. I allowed myself to explore new ways of making things, ignoring the inner voice that said, “I’m not an artist.”
My first wild experiment? Grinding moss into pigment to capture the texture and colors of birch bark in my painting. Nature isn't just my muse - it's my collaborator.
I learned that creativity isn’t about being good. It’s about being curious and open. Today, I incorporate something natural into every piece I create, every song I sing, and every movement I flow through.
I’ve carried Bob Ross’s spirit with me since I was young, and his influence is clear in the Whispering Wilds method. He taught me that art isn’t about mastery - it’s about joy, expression, and release. It’s about letting the natural world flourish inside us, whether through painting a “happy little tree” or finding our own creative rhythm. 🌳 It's about pairing wellness practices that resonate for you with wild wisdom to feel better.
So, let yourself explore.
✨Take paper and a pen or brush, or your phone camera outdoors.
✨Sing to the nearest bird.
✨Listen to music with nature sounds and move your body freely.
✨Write words that come to mind when you think about the wild, and watch how they take shape into a story or a poem.
See where nature takes you. See how it makes you feel.
Remember, creating is showing up for yourself, for your wellness, and for the whispers of the wild calling you to express yourself.
"You can do anything here - the only prerequisite is that it makes you happy." - Bob Ross
A Happy Little Activity
Here’s an invitation: channel a little Bob Ross today. Let nature inspire you, and let creativity connect you to your wild self. 🌲
I encourage you to grab a pencil or pen and a piece of paper and try something simple. You don't need specific art supplies. When I do this, I often grab my son's homework pencil and a blank page from my "to-do" notebook!
1) Close your eyes. Notice any tension in your body. Acknowledge it and let it go.
2) Imagine a leaf. Not just its shape, but its entire being. Picture its soft, flowing curves and the delicate veins that stretch across it like a roadmap of life. Imagine the color when you hold it up to the sun - how light filters through, glowing green or amber. Feel its texture - smooth, waxy, or perhaps rough and full of character. Think about the sound it makes when it dances with its siblings on a branch in a breeze. Let yourself experience the leaf fully as if it’s right there in your hands.
3) Now, with your eyes still closed, draw it. Don’t worry about the outcome. This is about visualization and expression. With our eyes closed, we can't even begin to expect or demand perfection.
4) Let your hand flow freely and enjoy the feeling. Draw as many leaves as you'd like. Let the shapes spill onto the page as you breathe deeply and relax into the sensation of your hand moving and the leafy visuals you've conjured in your mind.
5) When you’re finished, look at your creation without judgment. This isn’t about making “art.” It’s about letting go, focusing on simple, natural shapes, and finding peace. Sometimes your leaves will look like abstract wonders. Sometimes they’ll make you laugh. Both outcomes are gifts!
Like Bob Ross always said, there are no mistakes, only happy accidents.
This exercise allows you to tap into nature’s form and flow, even when you can’t step outside. It’s a way to focus on the joy of creativity and the freedom we find in the wild.
“There’s nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend.” - Bob Ross
Let’s Connect in Creativity
If you have a few minutes, please hit "reply" (this works for paid subscribers) or email me directly at dina@whisperingwilds.com (this works for everyone) and let me know if you tried the drawing exercise. I'd love to hear about your leaves.
I'm also curious about how you express your creativity in life - or if you don't have a creative pursuit- and which activities appeal to you.
And if you have a Bob Ross memory or two, please share those, too. We can enjoy the nostalgic inspiration together!
Press Play for Peace
With artistic inspiration and stress relief in mind, I created the first episode of The Whispering Wilds podcast to accompany this post.
While future podcast topics will vary to bring you the whole Whispering Wilds method, this first episode is another art exercise - with a different theme and technique, longer than what we've done here today, and with your eyes open!
I take you on a journey through nature-inspired, simple art that anyone can do. And I guide you through some breathwork and mindfulness as we go. Learn how to unwind, visualize, and connect with your inner calm the Whispering Wilds way.
You can tune in here on Substack, or through Spotify or Apple.
“Go out on limb. That’s where the fruit is.” - Bob Ross
Parting Thoughts From the Heart 💚
Thank you for joining me in exploring nature-inspired art and the lessons Bob Ross left us.
This week, let’s carry his spirit. Embrace creativity, invite nature into your life, and remind yourself that we’re all part of the same beautiful, wild community.🌿
With gratitude and so much love,
Dina
If you enjoy The Whispering Wilds and feel moved to help, tips are always appreciated and keep this space thriving. ✨
Until next time, be kind to yourself. Be wild. 🌿
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Please Note...
The Whispering Wilds method is not a replacement for medical and mental health care. Alternative health and wellness shines when it complements modern medicine, just as I believe modern medicine is at its best when accompanied by a holistic perspective. If you have a heart, lung, or circulatory condition, or suspect you do, or if you have a mental health disorder, or suspect you do, please ask your doctor or therapist before beginning any wellness practice.
Breathwork, meditation, journaling, movement, and other practices in The Whispering Wilds aren't suitable for everyone. The good news is that if your doctor or therapist advises you against a particular practice, the Whispering Wilds method will likely present alternatives to explore. Always ask your medical or mental health professionals first because we are all complex, unique individuals, and no true wellness approach is one-size-fits-all.