To find out, I spoke with art gallery owners, auctioneers, art collectors, ex-colleagues who worked with Ross, and the president of Bob Ross, Inc. — the company that preserves his legacy. The man behind the canvas

Inspired by the TV painter Bill Alexander, he started painting landscapes on gold mining pans and selling them at local markets in Alaska. On occasion, Bob Ross, Inc. leases out a few paintings to galleries and exhibits around the country: But Nelson chalks the crazy prices up to a combination of basic economic principles and social capital.This refers to the documentation that authenticates a particular artwork. In other words, the piece needs to be proven that it’s an authentic Bob Ross painting. Jessica Jenkins, a VP at the Minnetrista exhibit, and a Bob Ross scholar, tells The Hustle that many more Ross paintings are actually hanging in living rooms across the US. He was about as uninterested in the actual paintings as you could possibly be,” says Kowalski. “For him, it was the journey — he wanted to teach people. The paintings were just a means to do that.”

Bob Ross is an artistic hero to many. His show, The Joy of Painting, inspired countless folks to tap into their creative spirit, and beyond that, to do something everyday that will make them happy. We all need to be reminded of this every once and a while, so why not get a gentle nudge from your morning cup of coffee? This clever “self-painting” mug is an homage to Ross, but it goes beyond that to reveal a surprise image once you pour in a hot beverage. As the cup gets warmer, one of Ross' signature paintings appears before your eyes. The effect illuminates him as well as the printed saying of “We don’t make mistakes. We have happy accidents.” It spent years sitting in the garage until his son — an avid fan of Bob Ross YouTube videos — thought the signature in the corner looked familiar. Part of the reason Bob Ross, Inc. isn’t interested in selling the paintings is that it has far more lucrative assets on hand — like Bob Ross’s IP. In each 27-minute episode, Ross would paint one landscape from start to finish, shepherding viewers through his process with a soothing disposition, entertaining commentary, and an occasional guest appearance by his pet squirrel, Peapod. I would personally categorize Ross’s work as a hybrid between fine art and entertainment memorabilia,” she says.The instructional program premiered in 1983 on PBS, where it would run for over a decade and attract millions of viewers, including those who wondered if Bob Ross’s original paintings would ever be put for sale by PBS. As a TV painting instructor, Ross was known for his warm baritone voice, gentle demeanor, and light humor as well as his ability to complete beautiful landscape paintings in 30 minutes. For years, collectors and fans have clamored to own their own piece of Bob Ross lore. Multiple art dealers told The Hustle that demand for his work is extraordinarily robust.

paintings are in the possession of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Pre-fame, in Alaska, he sold thousands of paintings. And even while famous, he painted nearly every day at seminars, events, and charity auctions in between tapings. As a part of Ross’s agreement with Bob Ross, Inc., the paintings he created for TV were work for hire, meaning the company maintained ownership of his work. When Ross died in 1995, Bob Ross, Inc. (and thus, the paintings) became the sole property of Annette Kowalski and her husband, Walt.

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Though he died in 1995, the late TV painter remains an omnipresent cultural staple. His Chia Pet perm, nap-inducing voice, and meme-worthy sayings — “ Happy little trees!” — have transcended time. On YouTube, old episodes of his show, The Joy of Painting, boast ~ 450m views. No one knows why they don’t want to sell the paintings, but it probably has to do with the fact that Bob Ross never really wanted his artworks to be capitalized on. He only wanted recognition for his talent, and he achieved that with his TV program. If he were alive right now, it’s highly unlikely that he’d approve of his paintings being sold at thousands of dollars. Bob Ross Paintings in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History We still have 4 of his paintings hanging here at the station,” says Lori Georgi, a director at WIPB. “People come from England just to see them.” To find out how much a Bob Ross painting is worth, as with any artist, several things come into play: Provenance Over the course of his career, Ross filmed 381 episodes of The Joy of Painting. For each episode, he painted 3 versions of the same artwork — one before, one during, and one after taping.

She later convinced the still-unknown Ross to teach a class in Northern Virginia. It wasn’t long before they advertised for the class in a TV commercial and the station manager saw star potential in Ross.The bottom line is supply and demand: Bob Ross paintings are extremely tough to find, and more people want them than can have them,” he says. “They’re also the ideal conversation pieces, since they are almost universally recognizable.” An old newspaper clipping advertises an auction for an original Bob Ross painting featuring “majestic snow-covered mountains, a tranquil lake surrounded by towering evergreens, and a beautiful sunset sky.” (The Star Press; Muncie, Indiana, 2000) But this only answers a part of the mystery. What about all the other paintings Ross gave away or sold during his life? The open market The company, which can be reached by dialing 1-800-BOB-ROSS, gets constant inquiries from folks about buying the paintings.