Thirty original paintings by beloved television artist Bob Ross will be auctioned off in a series of sales designed to help public television stations across America cope with severe federal funding cuts. The paintings, created by the bushy-haired, soft-spoken host of "The Joy of Painting," will generate proceeds to support small and rural public TV stations that are struggling to maintain their programming.
Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., emphasized the significance of this initiative in honoring the late artist's mission. "Ross, a public television stalwart in the 1980s and 90s, dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone," Kowalski stated. "This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades."
The prestigious auction house Bonhams in Los Angeles will kick off the series by auctioning three of Ross's paintings on November 11. Additional auctions will follow in major cities including London, New York, and Boston, with online sales also planned. All profits from these auctions are pledged to support stations that distribute content through American Public Television.
The fundraising effort aims to help stations cover licensing fees for popular programming, including "The Best of Joy of Painting" based on Ross's original show, "America's Test Kitchen," "Julia Child's French Chef Classics," and "This Old House." These programs form the backbone of many public television schedules but require costly licensing agreements that many stations can no longer afford.
The financial crisis facing public broadcasting stems from Congress eliminating $1.1 billion in federal funding allocated to public broadcasting, following desires expressed by former President Donald Trump. This dramatic cut has left approximately 330 PBS stations and 246 NPR stations scrambling to find alternative funding sources. Many have launched emergency fundraising drives, while others have been forced to lay off staff members and reduce their programming offerings.
Bob Ross, who died in 1995 from complications related to cancer, spent 11 years producing "The Joy of Painting," which became a cultural phenomenon. The former Air Force drill sergeant, known for his remarkably calm demeanor and consistently encouraging words, experienced a remarkable resurgence in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns as people sought comfort and creative outlets at home.
Ross became famous for his gentle on-air commentary as he worked, often speaking about painting "happy little clouds and trees" and reassuring viewers that there were "no mistakes, only happy accidents." His philosophy of accessible art-making and positive thinking resonated with millions of viewers worldwide.
The 30 paintings selected for auction represent a comprehensive span of Ross's artistic career and feature his signature aesthetic of serene landscapes, including peaceful mountain vistas and tranquil lake scenes. Remarkably, Ross created most of these 30 works on-air during live television broadcasts, completing each painting in under 30 minutes—the length of a single episode of his show.
The art market has shown strong interest in Ross's work, with Bonhams previously selling two of his early 1990s mountain-and-lake scenes this past August for $114,800 and $95,750 respectively. Based on current market conditions and the quality of the collection, Bonhams estimates that the upcoming auctions of the 30 paintings will generate total proceeds ranging from $850,000 to $1.4 million, providing substantial support for struggling public television stations nationwide.
