Three paintings from the bushy-haired television art tutor, Bob Ross , sold for more than $600,000 on Tuesday — the first of 30 paintings from the artist set to be sold as part of a campaign to help cover the costs of public programming, following major federal funding cuts .

To a crowd of 356 bidders, all three pieces were auctioned off live by Bonhams Auction House in Los Angeles, per Bonhams . Next year, Bonhams will host three more auctions — in New York, Boston and London — to sell the remaining 27 paintings. The 30-piece auction is projected to raised between $850,000 to $1.4 million in funds.

“For a good cause — and you get the painting,” auctioneer Aaron Bastian said during a brief lull in the bidding, according to CBS News . He added, “Bob would remind you that this is y

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