Texas students wear wigs as a tribute to late painter Bob Ross

ABILENE, Texas—There were lots of happy little trees at one Texas middle school this week.

Art students at Madison Middle School in Abilene donned their curliest wigs and painted little trees onto canvases to pay homage to the late painter Bob Ross. Teacher Brady Sloane tells the Abilene Reporter News that the idea came about because she wanted to reward Advanced Placement students who had been stressed out over recent projects and grades.

The result was a flash mob Thursday of about four dozen students who wore wigs, blue button-down shirts and held palettes of paint. An episode of Ross’ television show, “The Joy of Painting,” was projected onto a large screen.

Ross gained a following for his soothing tone and soft-spoken voice. He died in 1995.

Greg Jaklewicz/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP ■ Madison Middle School art student Ariceli Martinez, wearing her Bob Ross wig, listens to the artist speak on a video screen Thursday during Flash Bob Flash Mob Day in Abilene, Texas. Painting began afterward. The students donned their curliest wigs and painted little trees on canvases to pay homage to the late painter.