Penticton gallery can barely keep up with interest in Bob Ross exhibit

Bob Ross is proving to be a popular draw in Penticton this summer in more ways than one, no pun intended.

Penticton Art Gallery Educational Programmer Carla O’Bee says the gallery is seeing hundreds of people tour the exhibit daily so far through July.

The gallery has also added extra Bob Ross Painting Classes as popularity surrounding the well-known painter continues to grow in the Peach City.

“We have six Bob Ross painting classes and they have all completely sold out,” O’Bee says.

Certified Bob Ross instructor Janette Smith provides the instruction, teaching in the Bob Ross style of oil painting with Bob’s wet-on-wet technique.

“We had four that sold out almost immediately and then we had to add two more, and they sold out almost immediately as well,” O’Bee says.

The art gallery is looking at possibly running extra classes in the fall after the exhibit closes, but that will largely depend on what COVID-19 restrictions are still in place.

“Right now we’re only allowing 10 people into our educational space at a time, so we are quite limited to what we can do,” she says.

The gallery’s Bob Ross exhibit continues to do well. O’Bee says between 200 and 250 people a day are going through the gallery, with more on weekends.

“We only allow 15 people in the main gallery at a time, so sometimes there is a lineup, but it moves quite fast,” she says.

The gallery is also mandating anyone entering wear a mask.

“People are coming from Vancouver, the Island, from up north, and they are telling us they are coming to Penticton to see the Bob Ross exhibit," O'Bee says.

The exhibit runs until Sept. 13.

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