DERRY — He had a unique look. A bushy-haired, soft spoken artist/educator who is now part of a Derry business.
So much so, that this eatery wants to bring the memory of artist, Bob Ross, who died in 1995, into the house for a charity paint night.
The Ricochet in Derry will host a benefit Ross-themed competition paint night, “Battle of the Brushes,” on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
People with reserved spots will come to The Ricochet dressed in their Bob Ross finest, and will paint according to what the artist will be teaching during an episode of his television program “The Joy of Painting.”
The benefit is already sold out.
Ross was a fixture with his calm, artistic lesson during his show that ran on PBS from 1983 to 1994.
His painting programs were also popular in Canada, Europe and Latin America. Ross died in 1995 from lymphoma complications.
Proceeds from the paint night will go to support the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.
Ross and his colorful memory on canvas found a home at The Ricochet.
“It’s kind of a funny thing, an organic thing that happened here,” said Ricochet owner Jo McCarran.
McCarran opened his pizza restaurant earlier this year, and said Ross became a part of the family, part of Ricochet’s DNA.
And he and his staff and customers like it that way.
It all happened because of a television issue at the business that put Ross and his program as the favored program being shown.
“It was stuck on the Bob Ross show,” McCarran said. “We just let it happen.”
And in the months since then, customers often come in looking for Ross and his painting lessons while enjoying pizza and other food.
McCarran said Ross is a perfect fit for his restaurant and the atmosphere he wants to keep, giving patrons a relaxed environment and positive vibes, he said.
“People come in and say, ‘Can you swing that over to Bob Ross?” McCarran said. “He’s part of us now.”
Having the benefit support Dana Farber is also fitting, McCarran said, as a good friend will be running the 2024 Boston Marathon in support of her daughter.
“Anything we can do to boost her cause,” McCarran said.
There will also be raffles and contests to name a best Bob Ross look and the best painting created.
Keeping Ross as a part of his Derry business will remain, McCarran said, and having the painter posthumously recognized in one special night that will do a lot of good is an added benefit.
“Bob is for the people,” McCarran said. “We see him every day. He calms everybody down.”
