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Three paintings of the famous cool public television legend bob ross Sold at auction Tuesday for more than $600,000. These paintings were the first of 30 works by Ross that were being sold to benefit public TV stations hurt by cuts in federal funding.
in live auction bonhams In los angelesA serene, snowy scene called “Winter’s Peace,” which Ross painted in its entirety during a 1993 episode of “The Joy of Painting,” went for $318,000 to a bidder over the phone.
“For a good cause – and you get the painting,” auctioneer Aaron Bastian said during the bidding. He invoked the general spirit of Ross, who died in 1995, during a brief lull. “Bob will remind you that it’s your world, and you can do whatever you want.”
Another painting made in the 1993 episode, a lush landscape called “Home in the Valley”, sold for $229,100. The third, “Cliffside”, sold for $114,800.
Final prices include a fee the auction house added to the final bid, known as the buyer’s premium. The identities of the buyers were not immediately disclosed.
Bids for all three paintings far exceeded the pre-auction estimate of their value, reaching nearly $50,000.
Three more of Ross’s paintings will be put up for auction at Bonhams, Marlborough. MassachusettsOn January 27, with others in New York and London.
All profits are pledged to stations that use content from distributor American Public Television.
A prominent public television personality in the 1980s and ’90s, Ross was known for his luscious hair and warm demeanor.
The special sale seeks to help stations that require the license fee that allows them to show popular programs including “America’s Test Kitchen,” “Julia Child’s French Chef Classics,” and “This Old House” along with Ross’s show. Small and rural stations are particularly challenging.
“The stations have been a gateway for generations of viewers to discover not only Bob’s gentle teaching, but the transformative power of art,” Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., said in a statement.
As demanded by the Trump administration, Congress has eliminated $1.1 billion allocated for public broadcasting, leaving about 330 pbs and 246 NPR stations.
Ross died at the age of 52 of complications from cancer after producing the therapeutic how-to show, “The Joy of Painting” for 11 years. The former Air Force drill sergeant was a pioneer of sorts, known for his cool — and calm — manner and encouraging words.
Ross often talked about this when he worked on painting tiny happy clouds and trees in the air and making no mistakes, only “happy accidents.”
He has become more popular in the decades since his death, and his show saw a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.