What kind of shirt does Bob Ross wear?

Bob Ross famously wore a simple, light blue long-sleeved button-down shirt, usually chambray or cotton, with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.

How do you make a DIY Bob Ross palette?

Cut a kidney-bean shape out of a piece of sturdy cardboard, cut a thumbhole near the edge, and paint colorful blobs of red, yellow, blue, and green acrylic paint on it.

Is a Bob Ross costume easy to make last-minute?

Yes, it is very easy. If you already have jeans and a blue shirt, you only need to source a brown afro wig, a fake beard, and a piece of cardboard for the palette.

Bob ross couple costume

One person dresses as Bob Ross, and the other dresses as a 'happy little tree' or a canvas painting.

AI-generated example

Bob Ross Costume

Bring happy little accidents to life with this iconic painter look.

Bob Ross is a beloved pop culture icon known for his soothing voice and PBS show 'The Joy of Painting'. This costume is a crowd-pleaser because of its nostalgic, wholesome vibe. The look consists of his signature brown afro, a light blue button-down shirt, and an artist's palette.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~15 min
Budget: $20–50

See yourself as Bob Ross →What you need Buy the Bob Ross costume

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Bob Ross costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as Bob Ross

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What you need for a Bob Ross costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Bob Ross costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.

Shop Bob Ross at Spirit ↗

Brown Afro Wig
A voluminous, curly brown afro wig that mimics Bob Ross's signature hairstyle.
DIY: Tease out a curly brown wig or style highly textured hair into a rounded shape.
Amazon
Brown Beard and Mustache
A matching brown adhesive beard and mustache set.
DIY: Use brown face paint or a stipple sponge with makeup to create a realistic beard.
Amazon
Light Blue Button-Down Shirt
A classic light blue long-sleeve chambray or dress shirt, worn with sleeves rolled up.
DIY: Use any light blue or denim button-down shirt from your closet.
Amazon
Dark Wash Jeans
Classic straight-leg blue jeans with a brown leather belt.
DIY: Any standard pair of blue jeans will work perfectly.
Amazon
Artist's Palette
A wooden kidney-shaped artist's palette with dabs of colorful paint.
DIY: Cut a palette shape out of cardboard and paint colorful circles on it.
Amazon
Paint Brush
A classic 2-inch flat landscape paint brush.
DIY: Use any large household paint brush you have in the garage.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Bob Ross costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Put on the straight-leg blue jeans and secure them with a brown leather belt.
2
Put on the light blue button-down shirt, roll the sleeves up to your elbows, and leave the top two buttons undone.
3
Carefully apply the adhesive brown beard and mustache to your face.
4
Shake out the brown afro wig to maximize its volume, then place it securely on your head.
5
Squeeze small dollops of colorful acrylic paint onto the wooden palette and let them dry completely before wearing.
6
Hold the artist's palette in one hand and the 2-inch paint brush in the other to complete the look.

Makeup & hair

If you have natural curls, you can tease them out into a rounded afro; otherwise, a synthetic brown afro wig is essential. Keep makeup minimal, focusing on securing the fake beard and mustache with spirit gum if needed for extra hold.

Bob Ross for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: One person dresses as Bob Ross, and the other dresses as a 'happy little tree' or a canvas painting.
group: A group can feature Bob Ross alongside several friends dressed as his paintings, happy trees, and a little squirrel.
kids: A miniature version with a tiny denim shirt, drawn-on beard, and a cardboard palette is incredibly cute.
Plus size: The relaxed fit of a button-down shirt and straight-leg jeans makes this comfortable and easy to size up.
pet: A pet can wear a tiny green tree costume to accompany their painter owner.

More ways people search for this costume

The most-searched variations of “Bob Ross costume”, and how this look adapts to each.

Bob ross couple costume: One person dresses as Bob Ross, and the other dresses as a 'happy little tree' or a canvas painting.

Tips

Let any paint on your DIY palette dry for at least 24 hours before the party to avoid staining your clothes.
Keep a small comb handy to fluff up the afro wig throughout the night.
Practice a few of Bob's famous catchphrases like 'happy little trees' and 'no mistakes, just happy accidents' to stay in character.

Bob Ross costume FAQ

What kind of shirt does Bob Ross wear?: Bob Ross famously wore a simple, light blue long-sleeved button-down shirt, usually chambray or cotton, with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
How do you make a DIY Bob Ross palette?: Cut a kidney-bean shape out of a piece of sturdy cardboard, cut a thumbhole near the edge, and paint colorful blobs of red, yellow, blue, and green acrylic paint on it.
Is a Bob Ross costume easy to make last-minute?: Yes, it is very easy. If you already have jeans and a blue shirt, you only need to source a brown afro wig, a fake beard, and a piece of cardboard for the palette.

Did you know? Despite his famous perm, Bob Ross actually disliked his afro hairstyle but kept it because it became the iconic logo for his company [1].