Vivian Ridge fell in love with art when she was only twelve years old. In time, her name would be linked to one of the most beloved art teachers in America. She was born in North Carolina in the middle of the 1940s and was talented from a young age. She went to Wake Forest University to get a degree in art history because she loved it so much.
When she met Bob Ross in college, things took a strange turn in her life. Bob later became well-known for his “happy little trees” and soothing drawing lessons. Their relationship grew quickly, and in 1965, Vivian married Bob Ross. In 1966[-4], they had a son named Robert Stephen “Steve” Ross. They were married for 12 years before getting a divorce in 1977[-4]. Before she died in May 2018, Vivian stayed out of the public eye for a long time. She was about 71 years old. One story she left behind that has never been told helped shape the early life of a painting hero.
Early Years and School
As a child in North Carolina
She was born in North Carolina around the middle of the 1940s. Either July 2 or July 24 of 1946 is written down as the date she was born. Many sources say she was born in Winston-Salem, but some say she was born in Wake Forest. There isn’t a lot of information about her family in public records, but there is proof that she grew up in a loving home where her creative interests were encouraged.
In North Carolina in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Vivian’s early years were shaped by the state’s post-war mood. In this southern setting, she formed her artistic sensibilities, but details about her early schooling are kept secret. Folk art and craft traditions in North Carolina in the 1950s and 1960s influenced her work.
Going to Wake Forest University to study art history
Vivian chose to go to Wake Forest University, which would change the way she would work as an artist. She decided to study art history instead of studio art, which shows that she wanted to learn about both making art and how it fits into history.
During her time at Wake Forest, she learnt about art trends, styles, and how they have affected culture over time. This information base helped her with more than just making art. It would later help her own work and her ability to teach others.
The university gave Vivian new ways to be creative and showed her different points of view. She got a degree in art history, which added to her natural art skills and love of the subject. This schooling set her apart from other artists of her time who learnt on their own and showed how much she cared about her work.
Painting interests from a young age
Vivian has always loved art, even before she went to college. When she was twelve, she got her first pencil and began to explore her artistic skills. It went from being a hobby to an important part of her life very quickly. Even though her early works aren’t well known, they set the tone for her lifelong love of art.
It was clear that Vivian stood out because:
- a natural ability for art that showed up when they were young
- a committed practice that began when she was young
- Some skills come naturally and some are learnt.
As she got older, she became more dedicated to drawing. She stopped just being interested and started practicing seriously. This early dedication to art later came together with her extensive knowledge of art history to form a full approach to creativity.
By the time Vivian graduated from college, she had learnt both how to do things and what they mean. Her unique mix of skills made her stand out in the art world and brought her together with Bob Ross. Her education and love of art formed the basis of who she was, aside from her work with the famous painter.
Getting married to Bob Ross
How Bob Ross and Vivian Ridge met
Different history accounts say different things about how Bob Ross and Vivian Ridge met for the first time. Some say they met for the first time at WQED-TV in Pittsburgh in 1961. She was in charge of production, and Bob was on the artistic team. According to some stories, they met while Vivian was at Wake Forest University and fell in love.
They got married in 1965.
These two people got married in 1965, no matter how they met. They got married and on August 1, 1966, they had a son named Robert Stephen “Steve” Ross. Steve ended up going down the same artistic road as his father. He became a certified painting teacher and was on his dad’s famous show, The Joy of Painting.
Being married to a soldier:
During the time Bob was in the military, Vivian was always there for him. Bob joined the US Air Force in 1961, when he was 18 years old. He first worked as a medical records tech. He worked hard at his job and eventually became a master sergeant at the Alaskan Eielson Air Force Base. During his 20-year military service, Bob took an art class that made him fall in love with painting.
Help from Vivian when Bob first started painting
Vivian’s knowledge of art history helped Bob as his art business grew. Her husband was an artist, and she supported him and sometimes added her own sketches or paintings to shows. When they were on TV shows together, people thought they were a great couple.
They were married for twelve years before getting a divorce in 1977. A lot of people say that Bob’s claimed cheating was the main reason they broke up. After a while, Bob married Jane Lee Zanardelli, and Vivian and their son lived apart.
Being a mother and having a family
The birth of Steve Ross
Robert Stephen “Steve” Ross joined the Ross family on August 1, 1966, just one year after Vivian Ridge got married. Vivian became a mother in this new chapter, and their family grew by one more person. Bob had a child when he was a teenager, so Steve is his second son.
What part Vivian played in Steve’s artistic growth
Vivian’s knowledge of art history was very helpful in developing Steve’s artistic skills, even after the couple broke up. Her understanding and Bob’s hands-on methods went together perfectly. Steve was very creative in this setting, and he sold his first drawing when he was 12 years old.
The young artist ended up going in the same direction as his father and became a qualified wet-on-wet painting teacher. When Steve appeared on shows of “The Joy of Painting,” Bob was very proud of his son’s artistic skills and often talked about them.
Keeping art and parenting in check
Vivian was able to keep up her love of art while she was raising Steve. Family life and creative hobbies were the most important things in her life. The home naturally encouraged artistic expression and creativity.
There are some questions about where Steve lived after they got divorced in 1977. Based on different sources, he may have lived with Vivian until she died, or Bob may have had full care. No matter what the agreement was, both of his parents had a big impact on his artistic journey.
Divorce and Life After Being Split Up
Why they are getting a divorce
Vivian Ridge and Bob Ross split up after 12 years of marriage in 1977. These papers say that they broke up because of “irreconcilable differences.” The fact that Bob was supposedly cheating on her was one of the main reasons they broke up. They had trouble getting along after Bob’s art business took off and he spent less time at home.
Life for Vivian after her divorce
Vivian decided to stay out of the public eye after they broke up. She moved to North Carolina, and we took care of their son. She never used her relationship with Bob to make money through books or talks. With art, gardening, and family, she was able to keep her life quiet. Reports say that she might work in real estate, but there aren’t many details about her job yet.
In 2018, she died.
Violet Ridge passed away on May 3, 2018. She was 75 years old. She didn’t tell anyone about her battle with cancer until it was over. The news barely talked about her death, which was similar to how she lived after her split.
Choices between public and private life
While Bob became a TV star, Vivian chose to live a quiet life away from fame. She didn’t watch “The Joy of Painting” or go to any public events that were linked to her ex-husband’s rising fame. Their different ways of dealing with public life show how much Vivian wants to be alone. She was very private, even after she died. There was no public funeral or statement.
In conclusion
It’s still not clear what Vivian Ridge had to do with one of America’s most famous paintings. She became interested in art when she was twelve years old, which led her to go to Wake Forest University to study. This artistic background definitely affected the house she shared with Bob Ross during their twelve-year marriage.
By 1977, they were no longer together, but Vivian had a big impact on Bob’s early artistic growth. She raised their son Steve, who later became an artist like his dad. Bob became famous on TV, but Vivian thought about her decision and stayed private after they broke up. She went to North Carolina and had a quiet life there until she died in 2018.
Vivian’s private life and Bob’s public picture showed two very different ways of living. Bob became well-known after “The Joy of Painting,” but Vivian was able to keep her privacy while her ex-husband’s fame grew. A lot of her story has still not been told.
Vivian Ridge’s story is an important but often forgotten part of the life of an American culture icon. Her background in art history, her support during Bob’s time in the military, and her impact on their son’s artistic path all helped make Bob Ross a star that millions of people loved. Many unknown people work behind the scenes to make famous people successful, as her life shows.
FAQs
Q1.Who was Vivian Ridge?
She was an artist on her own, and she was Bob Ross’s first wife. She went to Wake Forest University to study art history and started drawing when she was twelve years old. Vivian was very important to Bob Ross’s early artistic growth and to raising their son, Steve Ross.
Q2.How long did Bob Ross and Vivian Ridge stay married?
From 1965 to 1977, Bob Ross and Vivian Ridge were married for 12 years. They met in the early 1960s and got a divorce because they couldn’t get along anymore.
Q3: Did Vivian Ridge have anything to do with Bob Ross’s work on TV?
Bob Ross became famous through his TV show “The Joy of Painting.” Vivian Ridge, on the other hand, decided to keep her private life after her divorce. She didn’t go on the show or take part in any public events that were tied to her ex-husband’s rising fame.
Q4.What did Vivian Ridge do after she and Bob Ross split up?
Vivian Ridge went to North Carolina and stopped being seen in public after her divorce. She focused on raising their son and kept doing the things she loved, like drawing and gardening. She had a quiet life until she died in 2018.
Q5: Did Vivian Ridge and Bob Ross have any kids together?
They did have a boy together. His name was Robert Stephen “Steve” Ross and was born on August 1, 1966. Steve did what his father did and became a qualified painting teacher. He also sometimes appears on “The Joy of Painting.”
