NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – The Bob Ross Art Workshop and Gallery in New Smyrna Beach continues to thrive after opening almost 30 years ago.
“It’s a dream come true for me, I’ve followed Bob since I was just a little boy and began painting along with him,” gallery manager and instructor Nicholas Hankins said.
Although he didn’t get a chance to meet the iconic artist, his ultimate career goal was to learn how to paint like him.”I was always interested in art, I always liked to draw, but Bob really lit the fire to keep me going,” the Tennessee native said.
Hankins accepted the job and moved to New Smyrna Beach in Janurary to manage the workshop; where the easel Ross used is still there and now Hankins uses it.
“You learn to sit back and look at your work, take your time. I always rushed oil painting and so now I slow down a lot,” Rudy Batista, who is on his fourth workshop to learn the Bob Ross technique, said.
