Blair by George W. Bush
Putin by George W. Bush
Most of you know that I came to painting later in life. I was almost 30 before I ever started. A week or so ago I saw an interview that was most interesting about another painter that started after retirement. He was 65 before he picked up a brush. And no matter your politics this is an interesting story for many reasons. He said he was looking for something that would “fill the last chapters of his life and fill the extra space in his time and open his mind”. “A whole new world opened up when he picked up a brush”, he said. This new painter is President George W. Bush who is having his first show at his Presidential Library. He has painted portraits of many world leaders with whom he has worked. What I find most interesting is that after only two years of painting he has challenged himself to painting this show. For those of you who paint you will understand.
Take a look at this interesting interview last week on the Today Show where he discusses the show and gives a tour of his studio.
I got a good start on this Geranium sitting in the window sill this past week. I haven’t been able to complete it yet but hopefully I will find some time in the next few days and then I can show you a finished painting. For all my painting students – can you see what’s missing? Maybe a shadow under the window ledge? And some weathering on the walls. Heavier shadowing on the window frame…..and on and on. 😉
The Studio 