Bob Ross painting to raise funds for US public broadcasters

A Bob Ross oil painting will be auctioned in Munich to raise money for US public broadcasters facing funding cuts by the Trump administration, BR reports. The work, titled “Mountain Splendor”, is estimated to sell for between 40,000 and 60,000 euros.

The painting is due to go under the hammer on December 5. Ketterer Kunst, the Munich auction house handling the sale, said Ross painted it on camera in 1986. The landscape depicts mountains rising behind a lake, framed by trees and bathed in soft autumn light.

American Public Television, a US programme distributor, submitted the painting. The net proceeds will support public broadcasters seeking to maintain their programming after the Trump administration cut previously approved federal funding. The company plans to raise further support through this and similar auctions.

Ross, who was born in Florida in 1942, became known for his half-hour painting lessons on “The Joy of Painting”. ARD alpha has broadcast episodes almost daily since 2001, usually at 5.30am, with repeats overnight. More than 6.6 million people follow the artist and the programme on YouTube.

Ross’s calm manner and simple approach to painting helped make him a popular television figure. He encouraged viewers to see mistakes as “happy accidents” and often added small details to his landscapes while offering gentle commentary.

His programmes have also drawn attention for their relaxing sounds, including his voice and the swish of his brush. Some viewers experience a tingling, soothing sensation in response to these sounds, a phenomenon known as ASMR.