Three paintings from the bushy-haired television art tutor, Bob Ross, sold for more than $600,000 on Tuesday — the first of 30 paintings from the artist set to be sold as part of a campaign to help cover the costs of public programming, following major federal funding cuts.
To a crowd of 356 bidders, all three pieces were auctioned off live by Bonhams Auction House in Los Angeles, per Bonhams. Next year, Bonhams will host three more auctions — in New York, Boston and London — to sell the remaining 27 paintings. The 30-piece auction is projected to raised between $850,000 to $1.4 million in funds.
“For a good cause — and you get the painting,” auctioneer Aaron Bastian said during a brief lull in the bidding, according to CBS News. He added, “Bob would remind you that this is your world, and you can do anything you want.”
Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, Ross became the familiar face of “The Joy of Painting,” the PBS series where he peacefully encouraged viewers to paint landscapes under his gentle direction. Most of the paintings set for auction were created on air during the TV show.
The three landscapes sold Tuesday showcase Ross’ signature serene, impressionistic painting style. According to Bonhams, these are the paintings sold, and how much money each raised.
- “Winter’s Peace” (1993): A landscape with a snow-capped cabin, frosty evergreens and an idyllic orange sunset, sold for $318,000.
- “Home in the Valley” (1993): A single home set on a crystal blue lake with lush foliage and rolling hills, sold for $229,100.
- “Cliffside” (1990): Foamy waves crash through the crevices of a cliff, while a trio of birds peacefully soar by, sold for $114,800.
The idea for the campaign emerged after the Trump administration’s $1.1 billion cut in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — which left roughly 330 PBS stations in need of alternative funding.
All proceeds will go to American Public Television to fund program distribution for local public TV stations nationwide, particularly in rural areas. Some of these programs include “America’s Test Kitchen,” “Julia Child’s French Chef Classics” and “This Old House.”
“We’re thrilled with the results of this auction, which has surpassed our expectations,” Jim Dunford, president and CEO of American Public Television, said in a statement. “These funds will help local stations continue to serve their communities with impactful programming. We’re deeply grateful to Bob Ross, Inc. for shining a spotlight on the need to support public media, at this critical time.”
Ross, who died in 1995 of complications from lymphoma, created more than 30,000 paintings during his lifetime — roughly 1,143 of which were done for the filming of the show, per NPR.
While painting landscapes live during 30-minute segments, Ross spoke with the audience using signature phrases such as creating “happy little trees” and reminding viewers, “We don’t make mistakes, we just have happy accidents.”
Ross “dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone,” Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., said in an October statement. “This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades.”