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Bob Ross Canvases Top $600,000 at Bonhams to Support Public Television

Proceeds are pledged to American Public Television to help stations cover distribution costs after federal cuts.

Overview

  • Three works—Winter’s Peace ($318,000), Home in the Valley ($229,100) and Cliffside ($114,800)—sold in Los Angeles, drawing more than 350 registered bidders.
  • Two of the paintings were created on camera for The Joy of Painting, while Cliffside was produced for Ross’s instructional book series.
  • The sale marked the first tranche of a 30-painting donation organized by Bob Ross Inc. president Joan Kowalski to generate emergency support for public TV.
  • American Public Television says all proceeds will fund program distribution and help ease station licensing costs, including for its Create channel.
  • Bonhams plans additional auctions in 2026 to sell the remaining 27 works, with reports differing on one venue between London and Los Angeles, and organizers project total proceeds of roughly $850,000 to $1.4 million.