**Bob Ross Paintings Fetch Over $600,000 at Los Angeles Auction to Benefit Public TV Stations**
Los Angeles — Three paintings by famously chill public television legend Bob Ross sold Tuesday for more than $600,000 at auction. These artworks are the first of 30 Ross originals being sold to benefit public TV stations affected by cuts in federal funding.
At the live auction held at Bonhams in Los Angeles, a serene snow vista titled *Winter’s Peace*, which Ross painted entirely during a 1993 episode of *The Joy of Painting*, fetched $318,000 from a bidder on the phone.
“For a good cause and you get the painting,” auctioneer Aaron Bastian said during the bidding. He also invoked a common sentiment of Ross, who passed away in 1995, during a brief lull: “Bob would remind you that this is your world, and you can do anything you want.”
Another painting from the same year’s episode, a lush green landscape called *Home in the Valley*, sold for $229,100. A third piece, *Cliffside*, went for $114,800. The final prices include the buyer’s premium—an additional charge added by the auction house.
The identities of the buyers were not immediately revealed. Notably, bids for all three paintings far exceeded pre-auction estimates, which topped out around $50,000.
Three more Ross paintings will be auctioned at Bonhams in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on January 27, with additional sales scheduled at Bonhams locations throughout next year. The 30 paintings comprise the largest release of Ross originals ever offered to the public.
All profits from the auctions are pledged to benefit public TV stations that use content from distributor American Public Television. These stations, particularly small and rural ones, have been challenged by recent funding cuts that threaten their ability to license popular programs.
Bob Ross, a public television staple throughout the 1980s and ’90s, was known for his iconic dome of hair and warm demeanor. The special sales aim to help stations in need of licensing fees for beloved programs such as *The Joy of Painting*, *America’s Test Kitchen*, *Julia Child’s French Chef Classics*, and *This Old House*.
“These stations have been the gateway for generations of viewers to discover not just Bob’s gentle teaching, but the transformative power of the arts,” said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc.
The funding cuts come after Congress eliminated $1.1 billion previously allocated to public broadcasting, impacting approximately 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations nationwide.
Ross died at age 52 from complications related to cancer after 11 years of producing his therapeutic how-to show, *The Joy of Painting*. The former Air Force drill sergeant was a pioneer in calming, encouraging television instruction. He often spoke during broadcasts about painting happy little clouds and trees, reassuring viewers that there are no mistakes—only “happy accidents.”
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