Thirty paintings by beloved artist and television host Bob Ross will be auctioned to raise funds for small and rural public television stations impacted by federal budget cuts.
Ross, known for his calming voice and “The Joy of Painting” series, dedicated his career to making art accessible to all viewers on public television during the 1980s and 1990s.
The big picture: Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., emphasized that the auction helps preserve Ross’ legacy while supporting the public TV medium that aired his programs for decades.
- The auction is organized by Bonhams in Los Angeles, with the initial sale of three paintings scheduled for November 11. Additional auctions will take place in London, New York, Boston, and online.
- All proceeds will be donated to public television stations that air content distributed by American Public Television, including “The Best of Joy of Painting,” “America’s Test Kitchen,” “Julia Child’s French Chef Classics,” and “This Old House.”
Go deeper: The auctions aim to help stations struggling to cover licensing fees amid a $1.1 billion federal funding elimination for public broadcasting, a decision pushed by former President Donald Trump.
- The cuts have forced many PBS and NPR stations to hold emergency fund drives, reduce staff, and cut programs. Approximately 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations are affected.
- Ross passed away in 1995 after 11 years producing “The Joy of Painting,” a show celebrated for its soothing style and encouragement, famous for phrases like “happy little clouds” and “happy accidents.”
- The 30 auctioned paintings highlight Ross’ signature landscape style, featuring mountains, lakes, and serene nature scenes, each created in under 30 minutes during his TV episodes.
