Three original paintings by beloved television artist Bob Ross sold for a combined total of $600,000 at a Bonhams auction on Tuesday, marking the first sale of what will be 30 works donated to benefit American Public Television. The nonprofit syndicator, which has faced financial challenges due to budget cuts under President Trump's administration, will receive all proceeds from these sales of Ross's "happy little paintings."
The three landscape works - "Cliffside" from 1990, and "Home in the Valley" and "Winter's Peace" both from 1993 - were featured as top lots in Bonhams' larger California and Western art sale. Two of the paintings, "Home in the Valley" and "Winter's Peace," were created on camera during Ross's iconic PBS television program "The Joy of Painting," which aired for 11 years starting in 1983 until the artist's death from lymphoma in 1995. "Cliffside" was specifically painted for the 20th volume of Ross's instructional painting manual series, also titled "The Joy of Painting," which included step-by-step directions and photographs showing how to recreate 13 different scenes.
The auction results far exceeded pre-sale expectations, demonstrating the enduring popularity of Ross's work in the art market. "Winter's Peace" and "Home in the Valley" each carried pre-sale estimates of $30,000 to $50,000, while "Cliffside" was estimated at $25,000 to $40,000. However, the final hammer prices, including premiums, reached $318,000 for "Winter's Peace," $229,100 for "Home in the Valley," and $114,800 for "Cliffside."
The initiative originated with Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., who was inspired to action after learning about Bonhams' success with previous Ross paintings from a private collection. In August, two early 1990s Ross works - "Lake Below Snow-Capped Peaks and Cloudy Sky" and "Lake Below Snow-Covered Mountains and Clear Sky" - sold for $114,800 and $95,750 respectively, both well above their pre-sale estimates. This market performance convinced Kowalski to donate 30 paintings from the Ross estate to American Public Television, which syndicates "The Joy of Painting" among other programs.
"It will motivate bidders because it will help public television," Kowalski explained to The New York Times when the sale was announced in early October. "The marriage of the two ideas came together and then I couldn't let loose of it until I set it all in motion." Her decision reflects both the commercial appeal of Ross's work and a commitment to supporting the public broadcasting mission that helped make the artist a household name.
Bonhams plans to continue the charitable sales throughout 2026, with the remaining 27 paintings scheduled for auction in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles. This extended timeline will allow the auction house to maximize exposure and potentially raise even more funds for American Public Television, while giving collectors multiple opportunities to acquire works by the artist who became synonymous with accessible, joyful painting instruction on television.
