#31 • Bob Ross Alaskan Gold Pan Oil Painting of a Winter Cabin

Part of June 2026 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $7,250.00

Status: Sold

Category: Art

An original oil painting on black velvet executed on a novelty gold mining pan by renowned artist Bob Ross (1942-1995), depicting one of his iconic Alaskan winter scenes. Illuminated by the glow of the aurora borealis, a warmly lit log cabin rests beside a tranquil body of water beneath snow-capped mountains and towering evergreens. Accents of silver glitter enliven the composition, enhancing the brilliance of the northern lights and the shimmering snow. Executed in Ross's signature alla prima, or wet-on-wet technique, the scene displays the thick, expressive brushwork and rapid layering that would later make him one of the most recognizable painters in the world. Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, Ross was stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, from 1970 to 1976 while serving in the United States Air Force. It was during these formative years that he began painting and selling novelty gold pans adorned with idealized Alaskan landscapes featuring mountains, snowy cabins, and the northern lights, often embellished with silver glitter. These early works predate his rise to international fame through The Joy of Painting and are today regarded as among the most important and desirable objects associated with his career, representing the artistic foundations from which his later success emerged. Examples with strong Alaskan provenance are particularly sought after by collectors. Signed lower right, the gold pan measures approximately 16.75" in diameter by 2.25" deep. Provenance: By descent within a Fairbanks, Alaska family who acquired the painting directly from Bob Ross during his years in Interior Alaska.