Owen Wilson channels Bob Ross for his movie ‘Paint’

Owen Wilson is set to star as the lead role in ‘Paint’, a comedy film about a tortured artist, Carl Nargle, who is thriving in his niche art circle. That is, until a new artist emerges whose talents threaten Carl’s livelihood.

While the film is not based on the artist Bob Ross, Wilson’s character takes on the role of a painting show host, which is what most people remember Ross for.

Carl is also noticeably angrier than Ross, but Wilson explains that he turned to art – specifically Crayolas – to find a sense of calm.

“When my boys were little, at restaurants I’d give them crayons and try to calm them down, but I think that maybe adults should be doing that, too,” Wilson told Variety.

“I guess there’s that Picasso quote: ‘I want to spend the rest of my life learning to paint like a child.’ Not worrying about anything and just expressing yourself – that feels good.”

‘Paint’

“Hopefully what people will appreciate and enjoy is the same thing that I did when I first read the script, and that was just how funny it is, and the idea of somebody who has not felt the need to change with the times, because everything’s going so perfect in his life,” Wilson said.

‘Paint’ hits theaters on April 7.

Who was Bob Ross?

Bob Ross was an American painter, art instructor and TV personality host. He is best known for creating and hosting ‘The Joy of Painting’ which was an instructional television show featuring half-hour episodes of Ross teaching viewers new painting techniques.

The show aired from January 1983 to May 1994 with a total of 31 seasons.

Ross has since become an icon in pop culture, not just for his stunning paintings, but for his calm, joyous personality.

He passed away in July 1995 at the age of 52.