George W. Bush "a great artist," painting teacher says

Former President George W. Bush is "going to go down in the history books as a great artist," according to the woman who spent a month teaching the former president how to paint.

Mr. Bush has mostly kept a low profile since leaving office in 2009, but his decision to take up painting as a new hobby has garnered him a new kind of attention. Several of his paintings have recently surfaced, notably a memorial portrait of his beloved and recently departed Scottish terrier Barney.

Oil painting of Barney the dog, painted by his owner, former President George W. Bush

Bonnie Flood, an artist from Cumming, Ga., told WAGA-TV, "He started off painting dogs. I think he painted 50 dogs. He pulled out this canvas and started painting dogs, and I thought, 'Oh my God, I don't paint dogs!'"

The former president, according to Flood, was a quick learner and soon began painting fewer dogs and more landscape scenes.

Flood does most of her paintings at home in Cumming, according to WAGA, and she occasionally conducts workshops in Florida, which is where the former president heard about her.

In short order, she was packing her bags to spend a month teaching the former president how to paint.

Flood said she did not quite know what to call him, but she eventually settled on "43," explaining, "That's the way he signed his paintings.

"He has such a passion for painting, it's amazing," she said. "He's going to go down in the history books as a great artist."

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canabe100 says:: I've never said anything nice about "W" so I guess it's about time. His dog paintings are pretty good, a mix of realistic portraiture and impressionism.; reply

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trout-fish says:: Bush is a great BS artist ... we know that all too well.; reply

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MerrellOBrian64 says:: Thank God he never demonstrated his artist talent as President! He's single-handedly responsible for Obama's election and re-election AND most likely, the 2016 election to democrats. He wasn't the worst President ever for the whole country however, he did start and cultivate the political culture of completely and totally ignoring the democrats. Now, the two sides may never work together again and his side is the loser. He should have carefully thought...at all...on anything. You know, it takes hours and hours to complete and oil painting and he did 50 in office? And folks are on Obama for golfing?
Like I said, I'm an oil painter and I'm just damn glad he didn't ruin oil painting like he did the republican's future. Art stores would have closed down across the country with his "support".; reply

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dontforget911 says:

Looks like he is doing well with painting. Enjoy your retirement Mr. President.


realtimecoffee replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Digging out? We're totally committed to digging deeper.
As far as the painings go,they look pretty nice. Not sure why it's worth the news space.

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nohater says:: there are millions of artists, millions and millions, all over the world. most artists will never be known but bush is lucky, as an artist, because he already has high profile so his art work gets known, endorsed, and bush is established as an artist. good or average artist, bush has it made as an artist because of his high profile. good for him.; reply

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kbbpll says:: I bet he'd be really good at painting license plates.; reply

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tvwatcher5345 says:

he should be in jail with cheney as someone said in previous comments, but also include feith, wolfowitz, kristol, judy miller, the wurmser couple, peale, kagan, saphire, krauthammer, lieberman, and you can put them all in cells right next to jonathan pollard


bobnjersey replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; [Due to his "preoccupation" with "other things"]
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do you mean the incessant campaign by republicans to destroy him, his family, and his political career ... w/ endless investigations and claims of impropriety?

you mean those preoccupations?


blackirishcoakley replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; What will be remembered about the Bush term is the maniacal hatred of the left wing for a president who refused to BEND OVER for our war-waging, murderous enemies regardless of the left's constant whines that he should do so. No apologies from him!!!!
George Bush kept us safe after 9/11....this was no accident, it was the result of philosophies that liberals USED to cringe at and couldn't accept . If we had been attacked again, he would have been crucified for not doing enough. The fact is he kept us safe.He didn't hesitate to conduct wireless surveillance of terrorists( NOW it's OK). He decided on his own how to treat terrorists and where they should be imprisoned (not Mirandizing them). This is ultimately called "leadership" versus "pandering" which is what you see now with Obama and this administration..Gitmo still open, two American children killed in Drone attack~~Reading Miranda to Osama Bin Laden's son -in-law in New York~~~people better wake up. OUR President has repeated the line "I'm not a dictator you know where I can make all the decisions" 8 times since his re-election. Stay Vigilant!!