Bob Ross paintings auction will support public TV stations

The auction house Bonhams announced that 30 of Ross’ paintings will be sold at several auctions. The first auction will take place in Los Angeles on November 11. It will feature three of Ross’ pieces: “Cliffside” (1990), “Winter’s Peace” (1993), and “Home in the Valley” (1993). Each painting depicts a serene landscape and has the famed painter’s signature on the lower left side.

“Bob Ross dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone through public television. This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades,” said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc.

“I can’t think of a more meaningful way to share his works of art than by supporting public television’s mission to educate and inspire,” he continued.

Trump Administration Cuts Over a Billion Dollars in Funding

Public broadcasting has suffered tremendously following decisions by the Trump administration to cut public funding. In May, President Donald Trump signed an executive order withholding $1.1 billion dollars from National Public Radio and PBS to end what he called “biased and partisan news coverage.”

The decision forced hundreds of NPR and PBS stations to find alternative funding sources. That included emergency fund drives, programs cuts, and layoffs. Bonhams said every cent raised from the auction will go toward funding for American Public Television and PBS public television stations nationwide.

The total value of the 30 paintings is estimated to be anywhere from $850,000 to $1.4 million, according to Bonhams. Bonhams will hold future auctions in London, New York, Boston and online.

Bob Ross, beloved host of The Joy of Painting, touched millions of people with his work. The how-to show aired on PBS from 1983 to 1994. He uplifted us with his encouraging words and introduced us to a world where there are no such thing as mistakes, only “happy accidents.” Ross passed away one year after the show ended, though his influence lived on long after that.

Most of the 30 paintings up for auction were created on-air over the 30-minute span of one episode. Loved by many, Bob Ross’ legacy lives on through his work.