Similar assessments echoed around the room along with a few smiles. “I give up on trees,” joked one woman. “That one’s OK, but that one sucks,” said another.
The group — 21 mostly first-time and amateur painters — met Saturday for one of the Salt Lake City library’s most popular new events: a Bob Ross paint-along.
Participants followed along with an episode of the late Ross’ public television show, “The Joy of Painting” (though, at times, it was more like anguish). While he swiped out a masterpiece on the screen, calling out instructions in his soft, calming voice, the hardest part for the crowd seemed to be replicating the artist’s iconic “happy little trees.