A blank canvas on a stand, clean brushes waiting to be covered in color, all colors of the rainbow waiting in bottles to be opened, and a mind waiting to create something with their imagination. And yet, only some talented artists go on to worldwide recognition, and transform the industry (if art can be said to be an industry) with their work. While all warrant attention, there are some whom every single high school student should recognize.

#5 Picasso

Pablo Picasso is a well-known Spanish painter and sculptor who created portraits in an unique way, following the ideals of cubism. His most famous painting is the “Guernica”, but he is also known for works such as “The Old Guitarist” and “La Reve”. Many may not realize that Picasso was somewhat of a prodigy: at just eight years old, he created his first ever painting called “El Picador”. He is one of the most widely-known painters in the world.

While Picasso’s paintings are more of an abstract art, he is number 5 because his main focus is more of abstract portraits and does not really drift away from that specific type of art whereas some of the innovators on this list do.

#4 Michelangelo

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was a sculptor, Italian painter, and an architect. He is most known for sculpting the Pieta in Rome and David in Florence, as well as painting the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling and designing the dome for St. Peter’s Basilica. 

In 1487-88 when Michelangelo was 12 or 13 years old, he created his first (known) painting called ‘The Torment of Saint Anthony’.  While he may not have been the prodigy that Picasso was, Michelangelo is #4 on the list is because he created more than just paintings. His works – almost all of which are still on public display and major tourist attractions – influenced architecture and decor for decades, and remain among the most notable.

#3 Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh is known for his most famous painting ‘The Starry Night’, and for chopping his left ear off.

This Dutch painter’s first major painting was called “The Potato Eaters of 1885”, which he saw “as a showpiece, for which he deliberately chose a difficult composition to prove he was on his way to becoming a good figure painter.” In fact, Van Gogh had a deep sympathy for the peasants of his country, and many of his subsequent works depict their harsh lives and struggles.

He is #3 on the list because his artwork involved landscape and long streak paintings that influenced a number of other artists. His versatility (self portraits, landscape, deeper meanings behind etc.) raises him above some of the other famous artists, and demonstrate his talent.

#2 Seurat

Georges Seurat, who was a French artist, is renowned for “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”, but his first large painting was the “Bathers at Asnières”, which was made in 1883. Seurat’s work may be unfamiliar to high school students, as elementary and middle school curriculum does not always mention this important contributor in the artistic world. However, Georges Seurat is #2 because of his technique in painting. Seurat focused on a style called pointillism; it is a hard technique to learn. Essentially, pointillism involves “applying small strokes or dots of colour to a surface so that from a distance they visually blend together.” Whereas other artists took and improved upon existing styles, Seurat created his own. His art work is not that known other than his most famous paintings but he is very talented – and certainly an innovator.

#1 Bob Ross

This #1 pick might be controversial. Bob Ross was an American painter who doubled as an art instructor on his own TV show, “The Joy of Painting”. This series, which ran for more than a decade, continues to thrive on YouTube even today; in fact, just this last year, a surge of Bob Ross merchandise, ranging from paint-by-number kits to Chia Pets, appeared in retail stores.

Ross created landscape paintings while teaching others and offered funny comments while painting. His first episode, a “Walk in the Woods” was released on January 11, 1983, and is worth checking out as it allows novice painters step-by-step instruction that will improve their techniques.

Ross is #1 on the list not only for his talent and lasting popularity, but his calming voice while on his show, which helps the audience understand what the painter is doing while they follow along.