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Bob Ross, the television painter known for his calming voice and positive attitude, has left an indelible mark on pop culture. His show, “The Joy of Painting,” which aired from 1983 to 1994, has become a classic, inspiring millions to pick up a brush and create their own “happy little trees.” But what happens when one of Ross’s original paintings hits the market? The art world is abuzz with the news that “A Walk in the Woods,” the first painting Ross completed on-air, is up for sale for a staggering $9.85 million.
The Painting: “A Walk in the Woods”
“A Walk in the Woods” was painted live on-air during the very first episode of “The Joy of Painting” in January 1983. The painting depicts a serene woodland scene in shades of gold and blue, capturing the essence of Ross’s art-positive mission. The painting is authenticated by Bob Ross Inc. and was acquired by Modern Artifact, a Minneapolis-based art gallery. The painting has been kept safe for decades by a volunteer at the PBS station where the show first aired.
The Market Value: A Price Tag of $9.85 Million
The painting’s price tag is a testament to Ross’s enduring legacy. Modern Artifact owner Ryan Nelson stated that the demand for Bob Ross paintings has surged, driven by nostalgia, social media, and public interest in the artist’s personality. The gallery is offering the painting at a price point of $9.85 million but is in no rush to sell. They would prefer to share it with a museum or traveling exhibit to allow as many people as possible to view this unique work of art.
The Rarity of Bob Ross Paintings
Despite his prolific output—Ross produced an estimated 30,000 canvases in his lifetime—his original paintings are nearly impossible to find. Most of the more than 1,000 paintings created during “The Joy of Painting” are owned by Bob Ross Inc. and are not offered for sale. This scarcity adds to the painting’s high market value and makes it a one-of-a-kind piece.
Bob Ross: Beyond the Canvas
Ross’s influence extends far beyond the traditional art market and into the realm of pop culture. His show attracted 80 million global viewers during its 11-year run and continues to garner views on platforms like YouTube. Ross’s love for small creatures often found its way onto his show, featuring baby animals ranging from deer to raccoons. His signature afro was actually a perm, a look he didn’t particularly like but couldn’t change due to its association with his brand.
The Bob Ross Phenomenon
What sets Bob Ross apart is not just his artistic skill but his ability to connect with people. His show wasn’t just about painting; it was about imparting a sense of peace and encouraging everyone to discover the artist within. Ross’s approach to art was therapeutic, a form of mindfulness before the term became a buzzword. His influence is a testament to the power of authenticity in a world often driven by hype and commercialism.
Lesser-Known Facts
Ross was a Florida native and high school dropout who moved to Alaska after joining the Air Force.
He began selling local landscape scenes on gold mining pans to tourist shops in Alaska.
Ross trained under Bill Alexander, another television painter, who helped him land his own show.
Why are Bob Ross paintings so hard to find?
Bob Ross paintings are hard to find primarily because the majority of them are owned by Bob Ross Inc., the company that manages his estate. During the run of “The Joy of Painting,” Ross created more than 1,000 paintings, usually producing three versions of each painting per episode. However, only one of these was painted on camera. These paintings are not generally offered for sale to the public. Instead, they are stored in a Virginia office building owned by Bob Ross Inc.
In addition to the paintings created for the show, Bob Ross was a prolific artist who produced an estimated 30,000 paintings in his lifetime. Despite this large output, the scarcity of available works on the market adds to their allure and value. Even art galleries that specialize in Bob Ross paintings, like Modern Artifact, have to go to great lengths to acquire them, sometimes placing wanted ads in local newspapers in areas where Ross lived or worked.
The scarcity is also partly due to the fact that many of Ross’s paintings were sold or donated for charitable causes, often during fundraising auctions for PBS stations. Some have also been donated to museums or are part of private collections, further limiting their availability on the open market.
So, the difficulty in finding Bob Ross paintings can be attributed to a combination of factors: ownership by Bob Ross Inc., donations to charitable causes, and inclusion in private collections.
Interesting statistics from the show The Joy of Painting
1. Episodes and Seasons: The show ran for 31 seasons from January 11, 1983, to May 17, 1994. It consists of a total of 403 episodes.
2. Global Reach: At its peak, the show was watched by 80 million viewers worldwide and was broadcast in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan.
3. Happy Little Trees: According to a statistical analysis by the website FiveThirtyEight, trees appear in 91% of Bob Ross’s paintings. Clouds are the second most common element, appearing in 44% of the episodes.
4. Mountainous Love: Mountains appear in about 39% of Ross’s paintings, according to the same analysis.
5. Limited Palette: Ross typically used a palette of only 13 colors, emphasizing the idea that viewers didn’t need a lot of expensive materials to create art.
6. Three Versions: For each episode, Ross actually painted three versions of the same painting. One was prepared beforehand and used as a reference during filming, the second was the one he painted on camera, and the third was a more detailed version created afterward for his instructional books.
7. Speed Painting: Each painting was completed in just under 30 minutes, the length of each episode, showcasing Ross’s “wet-on-wet” technique that allowed for quick blending of oil paints.
8. Animal Appearances: Ross often featured live animals on his show, including a baby deer, squirrels, and birds. These appearances were intended to promote wildlife care.
9. YouTube Popularity: As of 2021, the official Bob Ross YouTube channel has over 4 million subscribers and some episodes have garnered over 10 million views.
10. Cultural Impact: Bob Ross has been referenced in various forms of media, including video games, comic strips, and even as a character in the 2016 film “Deadpool.”
These statistics not only highlight the show’s popularity but also its enduring impact on pop culture and art education.
