My mama watched him and got more into art in her golden years. I have a few of her “better” pieces framed and hanging. I was just a kid (in my late 30s) and he was a step above paint by number. All the 55+ out there were 20 or so when he was out and made “art” accessible. This is pre YouTube so things like knitting or other crafts involved classes or passed down info. I mean we had those cross stitch kits I guess or home ec if young enough. But in general, if you had a family and maybe couldn’t get away, get a babysitter, and pay for a class, he opened a whole new world. I was too young - I watched him and thought cool but not obsessed. Then gen z came along, found him, and thought holy crap you had this wholesome programming! Look at the mr Rogers obsession. And all of us growing up with him in the background think yes. Yes we did. Anyway that’s my theory - he made art accessible in a non YouTube time frame (but I think he’d kill it if around today - he could branch out with hair care tips, etc!) and he just genuinely seemed like an amazing person.