Elena Rossi
Bob Ross, the artist and host of the TV show The Joy of Painting, produced almost 30,000 paintings in his lifetime. Despite this, it is very difficult to find and purchase his paintings. Bob Ross Inc., the company that manages his artistic estate, has never sold his paintings and does not plan to do so. Interestingly, Ross once stated that his paintings would never hang in a museum, especially not in the Smithsonian. However, in 2019, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History acquired a handful of Ross' paintings, along with other artefacts, for its permanent collection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does the Smithsonian have any Bob Ross paintings? | Yes |
| Number of Bob Ross paintings at the Smithsonian | A handful out of 1,143 paintings |
| Location of the paintings | Smithsonian's National Museum of American History |
| Date of acquisition | March 22 |
| Bob Ross Inc.'s location | Herndon, Virginia |
| Number of paintings at Bob Ross Inc. | 1,165 |
| Bob Ross paintings sold online | $8,000 to $10,000 |
| Bob Ross's reply when asked if his paintings would hang in a museum | "Well, maybe it will. But probably not the Smithsonian." |
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What You'll Learn
Bob Ross Inc. donated paintings to the Smithsonian
Bob Ross, the artist and television presenter, produced an estimated 30,000 paintings over his lifetime. Despite his enormous output, it is very difficult to find or purchase his paintings. This is because Bob Ross Inc., the company that owns and manages his artistic estate, has never sold his paintings.
In 2019, Bob Ross Inc. donated a selection of artwork and artefacts to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The donation included several paintings, such as 'Blue Ridge Falls' from 1994 and 'On a Clear Day' from 1988, as well as a converted stepladder used as an easel, two handwritten notebooks, and fan letters sent to Mr Ross.
Curators from the Smithsonian, Eric Jentsch and Ryan Lintelman, visited the Bob Ross Inc. offices in Herndon, Virginia, to select the works that would be donated. Mr Jentsch noted that "the hardest part was choosing the paintings". The paintings and artefacts officially became part of the museum's permanent collection on 22 March 2019.
At the time of the donation, the Smithsonian had no plans to display the paintings. However, the artefacts will eventually be exhibited alongside the work of other American icons. This donation to the Smithsonian is particularly notable because, during his lifetime, Bob Ross had stated that his paintings would never hang in a museum.
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The paintings are part of the Smithsonian's permanent collection
Bob Ross created almost 30,000 paintings during his lifetime, yet his works are virtually impossible to find, let alone purchase. The artist, who gained fame for his half-hour instructional show "The Joy of Painting", once stated that his paintings would never hang in a museum, especially not the Smithsonian. However, in 2019, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History acquired a handful of Ross' paintings for its permanent collection.
The Smithsonian now owns Bob Ross paintings, but few others do. The artist's company, Bob Ross Inc., estimates that it has 1,165 paintings stored on-site at its headquarters in Herndon, Virginia. However, these paintings are not for sale and are kept in a warehouse, stacked in cardboard boxes without proper climate control.
The Smithsonian's acquisition of Bob Ross paintings was made possible through a donation by Bob Ross Inc. The donation includes the book version of "Blue Ridge Falls" from Season 30 (1994) and all three versions of the painting "On a Clear Day" from Season 14 (1988). Other items donated include a converted stepladder used as an easel during the first season of "The Joy of Painting", two handwritten notebooks from Seasons 2 and 3, and fan letters sent to Mr. Ross before and after his death in 1995.
The paintings and artefacts officially became part of the Smithsonian's permanent collection on March 22. While there are currently no plans to display the paintings, they will eventually be featured alongside the works of other American icons. The acquisition of Bob Ross' paintings by the Smithsonian is significant as it recognises his impact on diverse individuals and communities, with his easy-to-emulate style and onscreen antics making him widely considered an American icon.
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The Smithsonian has no plans to display the paintings
Bob Ross is known for his half-hour instructional show, "The Joy of Painting", which premiered in 1983. On the show, Ross produced landscape scenes in his easy-to-emulate style. Over the course of his lifetime, Ross produced almost 30,000 paintings, yet it is nearly impossible to find one of his signature landscape scenes for purchase. This shortage has led to a surprising demand for his work, with the few paintings that do surface commanding a hefty premium.
In 2019, Bob Ross Inc. donated a selection of artwork and artefacts to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The donation included two paintings, a converted stepladder used as an easel, two handwritten notebooks, and fan letters sent to Ross before and after his death. The paintings donated were "Blue Ridge Falls" from 1994 and "On a Clear Day" from 1988.
Despite now owning paintings by Bob Ross, the Smithsonian has no plans to display the paintings. The paintings are now part of the museum's permanent collection and will eventually be featured alongside the work of other American icons.
In the rare cases when a Bob Ross painting does become available, they are highly sought-after. Authentic Ross paintings have been known to sell online for $8,000 to $10,000, with one three-panel painting listed on eBay for $55,000.
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Bob Ross made three versions of each painting
Bob Ross produced almost 30,000 paintings over his lifetime. However, it is nearly impossible to find and purchase his paintings. The artist made three versions of each painting that appeared on "The Joy of Painting". The first version was made before the show, to be used as a reference. The second was painted during the 26-minute taping, sometimes with last-minute improvisations. The third version was made after the show, for instructional books.
Bob Ross Inc. estimates that it has 1,165 paintings stored on-site. However, Ross also painted as an instructor, for public events, and for charity, so there may be even more paintings out there. The paintings are stored in a warehouse in Herndon, Virginia, which is closed to visitors.
In 2019, the Smithsonian acquired a handful of Ross's paintings for its permanent collection at the National Museum of American History. The donation included the book version of "Blue Ridge Falls" from Season 30 (1994), as well as all three versions of the painting "On a Clear Day" from Season 14 (1988). The Smithsonian also acquired artefacts related to Ross, including a converted stepladder used as an easel and two handwritten notebooks.
Despite his earlier doubts, Bob Ross's work is now exhibited in the Smithsonian, with his paintings joining the works of other American icons.
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Bob Ross once said his paintings wouldn't hang in the Smithsonian
Bob Ross, the artist and host of the beloved television show "The Joy of Painting," once stated that his paintings would not hang in the prestigious Smithsonian Institution. This comment reflected his modest attitude and the intention behind his artwork. Despite his immense popularity, Ross never intended for his paintings to be displayed in museums or to be seen as fine art.
During his lifetime, Ross created a staggering number of paintings, with estimates ranging from 1,100 to over 30,000 artworks. However, he never sold his paintings, and they remained largely out of the public eye. The majority of his works were stored at the headquarters of Bob Ross Inc., the company that managed his artistic estate.
In a surprising turn of events, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History acquired a selection of Ross's paintings and artifacts in 2019. This acquisition sparked a new level of interest in Ross's artwork, as it marked the first time that a significant number of his paintings would be exhibited to the public. The donation included three versions of the painting "On a Clear Day" and a 1994 artwork titled "Blue Ridge Falls," among other items.
While Ross may have doubted that his paintings would ever hang in the Smithsonian, his works ultimately found a place in this esteemed institution. The acquisition by the Smithsonian not only recognized the cultural significance of Ross's art but also celebrated his unique contribution to American culture and the joy he brought to countless individuals through his paintings.
Despite the Smithsonian's acquisition, Ross's paintings remain challenging to track down and purchase. The paintings are now part of the Smithsonian's permanent collection, and while there were initially no plans to exhibit them, they are expected to be displayed eventually, alongside the works of other American icons.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History acquired a handful of Bob Ross's paintings in 2019.
Bob Ross produced almost 30,000 paintings over the course of his lifetime. However, Bob Ross Inc. estimates that they have 1,165 paintings stored on-site.
The paintings donated to the Smithsonian are located at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington. The rest of the Bob Ross paintings are stored at the Bob Ross Inc. headquarters in Herndon, Virginia.
No, Bob Ross Inc. has never sold any of the paintings. However, some paintings have surfaced on eBay for thousands of dollars.
No, in a 1994 interview, Bob Ross stated that his paintings would never hang in a museum, "But probably not the Smithsonian."
