Joy of Painting Books in Order
Part ofBob Ross Books in OrderExplore the Joy of Painting books by Bob Ross in order, with outlines of each season based volume, series background from the TV show, and help choosing the best project book to begin with.
Last updated: June 7, 2026
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Joy of Painting books in publication order
35 books
The Joy of Painting Volume 1
by Bob Ross
1984
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 2
by Bob Ross
1984
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 3
by Bob Ross
1985
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 4
by Bob Ross
1985
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 5
by Bob Ross
1986
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 6
by Bob Ross
1986
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 7
by Bob Ross
1986
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 8
by Bob Ross
1986
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 9
by Bob Ross
1987
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 10
by Bob Ross
1987
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 11
by Bob Ross
1987
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 12
by Bob Ross
1988
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 13
by Bob Ross
1988
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 14
by Bob Ross
1989
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 15
by Bob Ross
1989
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 16
by Bob Ross
1989
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 17
by Bob Ross
1989
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 18
by Bob Ross
1990
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 19
by Bob Ross
1990
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 20
by Bob Ross
1990
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 21
by Bob Ross
1990
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 22
by Bob Ross
1991
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 23
by Bob Ross
1991
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 24
by Bob Ross
1991
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 25
by Bob Ross
1992
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
Bob Ross' New Joy of Painting: A Collection of His Favorites
by Bob Ross
1993
Bob Ross' New Joy of Painting gathers sixty of his later Joy of Painting projects into one volume, pairing each finished landscape with step by step photos and instructions so you can revisit some of his most loved scenes.
The Joy of Painting Volume 26
by Bob Ross
1993
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 27
by Bob Ross
1993
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
The Joy of Painting Volume 28
by Bob Ross
1993
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 29
by Bob Ross
1994
This Joy of Painting book features thirteen step by step landscape projects taken from Bob Ross’s TV series, with full color reference paintings, supply lists, and clear photos so you can follow his wet-on-wet technique from first sky wash to final highlight.
The Joy of Painting Volume 30
by Bob Ross
1994
In this Joy of Painting volume you will tackle thirteen complete scenes, from skies and mountains to trees and water, guided by Bob Ross’s simple instructions, materials lists, and close up photographs of every major stage.
Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
by Bob Ross
1995
This large collection gathers sixty favorite projects from The Joy of Painting, each with a full color reference image and black and white how to photos, guiding you through Bob Ross’s most popular mountains, cabins, seascapes, and winter scenes.
More Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
by Bob Ross
1995
More Joy of Painting with Bob Ross continues the series with another sixty projects drawn from the TV show, expanding on his trademark landscapes and offering extra practice with clouds, waterfalls, oval frames, and subtle lighting effects.
Discover The Joy Of Painting With Bob Ross
by Bob Ross
1998
Discover The Joy Of Painting With Bob Ross serves as a hands on workshop in book form, offering multiple landscape projects, clear instructions, and practical tips that show how to build skies, mountains, trees, and reflections from the very first stroke.
Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting
by Bob Ross
2017
Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting explains his wet-on-wet oil technique in detail, combining full color landscapes, supply lists, and step by step photo sequences so beginners can follow along and finish their own scenes in just a few sessions.
Joy of Painting books in chronological order

The Joy of Painting Volume 1
by Bob Ross
1984Joy of Painting, Book 1
The Joy of Painting Volume 2
by Bob Ross
1984Joy of Painting, Book 2
The Joy of Painting Volume 3
by Bob Ross
1985Joy of Painting, Book 3
The Joy of Painting Volume 4
by Bob Ross
1985Joy of Painting, Book 4
The Joy of Painting Volume 5
by Bob Ross
1986Joy of Painting, Book 5
The Joy of Painting Volume 6
by Bob Ross
1986Joy of Painting, Book 6
The Joy of Painting Volume 7
by Bob Ross
1986Joy of Painting, Book 7
The Joy of Painting Volume 8
by Bob Ross
1986Joy of Painting, Book 8
The Joy of Painting Volume 9
by Bob Ross
1987Joy of Painting, Book 9
The Joy of Painting Volume 10
by Bob Ross
1987Joy of Painting, Book 10
The Joy of Painting Volume 11
by Bob Ross
1987Joy of Painting, Book 11
The Joy of Painting Volume 12
by Bob Ross
1988Joy of Painting, Book 12
The Joy of Painting Volume 13
by Bob Ross
1988Joy of Painting, Book 13
The Joy of Painting Volume 14
by Bob Ross
1989Joy of Painting, Book 14
The Joy of Painting Volume 15
by Bob Ross
1989Joy of Painting, Book 15
The Joy of Painting Volume 16
by Bob Ross
1989Joy of Painting, Book 16
The Joy of Painting Volume 17
by Bob Ross
1989Joy of Painting, Book 17
The Joy of Painting Volume 18
by Bob Ross
1990Joy of Painting, Book 18
The Joy of Painting Volume 19
by Bob Ross
1990Joy of Painting, Book 19
The Joy of Painting Volume 20
by Bob Ross
1990Joy of Painting, Book 20
The Joy of Painting Volume 21
by Bob Ross
1990Joy of Painting, Book 21
The Joy of Painting Volume 22
by Bob Ross
1991Joy of Painting, Book 22
The Joy of Painting Volume 23
by Bob Ross
1991Joy of Painting, Book 23
The Joy of Painting Volume 24
by Bob Ross
1991Joy of Painting, Book 24
The Joy of Painting Volume 25
by Bob Ross
1992Joy of Painting, Book 25
The Joy of Painting Volume 26
by Bob Ross
1993Joy of Painting, Book 26
Bob Ross' New Joy of Painting: A Collection of His Favorites
by Bob Ross
1993Joy of Painting, Book 27
The Joy of Painting Volume 27
by Bob Ross
1993Joy of Painting, Book 28
The Joy of Painting Volume 28
by Bob Ross
1993Joy of Painting, Book 29
The Joy of Painting Volume 29
by Bob Ross
1994Joy of Painting, Book 30
The Joy of Painting Volume 30
by Bob Ross
1994Joy of Painting, Book 31
Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
by Bob Ross
1995Joy of Painting, Book 32
More Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
by Bob Ross
1995Joy of Painting, Book 33
Discover The Joy Of Painting With Bob Ross
by Bob Ross
1998Joy of Painting, Book 34
Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting
by Bob Ross
2017Joy of Painting, Book 35
Series background & context
The Joy of Painting book series sits closest to Bob Ross’s television work. Each volume mirrors a season of the show, gathering thirteen projects that match the paintings viewers watched come together in half an hour on screen.
Inside, every project starts with a full color reproduction of the finished painting, followed by a supply list that spells out the canvas size, medium, and the familiar range of Bob Ross oil colors. Step by step photographs break each scene into simple moves, with short notes that sound a lot like his voice, reminding you to keep the brush strokes light or to just barely touch when you are making soft highlights.
The books move through the same kinds of subjects fans know from the show. One lesson might build a towering mountain over a quiet lake, another might focus on a winter barn tucked into snowy woods, and a third might jump to a crashing seascape or a close up of rocks and waterfalls. Because every volume includes a mix of ideas and moods, you can choose a calm sky or a stormy one depending on how adventurous you feel that day.
Although the volumes are numbered, you do not need to read them in strict order. Many painters treat them as a long shelf of options, pulling out The Joy of Painting Volume 5 when they want a particular composition or The Joy of Painting Volume 22 when they feel like trying a new challenge. The later books, such as Volumes 25 through 30, tend to reflect Ross’s mature style, with more complex layers of mist, light, and texture, while the earlier volumes show how he gradually refined his approach.
Some companion titles sit alongside the numbered series. Bob Ross' New Joy of Painting: A Collection of His Favorites and Experience the Joy of Painting With Bob Ross revisit standout projects from the show in a single thick volume, often adding extra hints, variations, or alternate views. For readers who want both breadth and structure, these collections make it easy to see how often simple elements like a tree line, a path, or a strip of reflected light can be reused in different ways.
Whether you are a complete beginner or someone who has followed the TV series for years, the Joy of Painting books are built to be forgiving. You can study them slowly in a chair before ever opening a tube of paint, or prop a volume next to the easel and work right in rhythm with the photographs. The goal is the same as it was on television, to give you clear, concrete steps so you can enjoy the process and be pleasantly surprised by the landscape that appears.
Edited by
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