2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nHowever, she would later attend a five-day class in Clearwater, Florida, featuring Bob Ross and the pair soon partnered up after she was \u201cmesmerised\u201d by his talent.<\/p>\n
Annette then helped launch Bob\u2019s career on-screen after Walt suggested they create a commercial to promote Ross\u2019 classes.<\/p>\n
They ended up taking the tape to their local PBS station, where the manager hired bob on the spot for a new TV series now known as The Joy Of Painting.<\/p>\n
Annette and Walt then entered into a business partnership with Bob and his then-wife, Jane, in 1985. <\/p>\n
Bob Ross Inc. then expanded to selling art supplies and other products under Bob\u2019s name. <\/p>\n
<\/span>What happened between Bob Ross and Annette and Walt Kowalski?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe Netflix documentary Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed alleges that Bob and Annette had an affair – something which the Kowalski family strongly says is completely false. <\/p>\n
It’s reported the issue between the Kowalskis and Bob started after the painter’s wife died of cancer in the early ’90s. <\/p>\n
Following her death, her quarter-portion of the company was divided equally between the three surviving partners, making Bob a minority vote in a company that profited off his name. <\/p>\n
The struggle reportedly continued into the ’90s, as Bob became unwell himself with\u00a0Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. <\/p>\n
In the documentary, Bob’s son says he remembers his father desperately making efforts to keep his name and likeness from being turned over to the Kowalski family.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Where are Annette and Walt Kowalski now?<\/span><\/h2>\nAnnette and Walt are now retired.<\/p>\n
In 2012, the couple passed on the company\u2019s responsibility to their daughter Joan Kowalski, who was previously a media director. <\/p>\n
The company is headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, which is where Annette and Walt live.<\/p>\n
Bob Ross’ son Steve helps a class paint a mountain view landscape oil painting <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n