George Bush paintings....ummmmmmmm

[Jetheels]

When he first showed his painting of his feet in the bathtub I was like ok, naive, someone who doesn’t really know how to draw and is trying to paint, ok, whatever. Then not too much later, a couple months or so, we’re seeing him executing portraits of presidents, pets....etc. I really have to question if these are really his work. I have studied drawing and painting myself, have spent years going to life drawing classes and spent a couple years painting en plein air. I just don’t see how someone jumps from an extremely naive painting ability to rather sophisticated portraits, that show a keen level of drawing ability as well as style, and a knowledge of how values work in a painting. The guy is not that smart. And he’s a big ass liar, or as he would say, untruth. My guess is that he has someone doing the drawing, mixing the colors/values, and then he puts the actual paint on. There’s just no way otherwise, imho. Idk, just something that has bothered me and I recently watched a video on some news show about his paintings is why I’m bringing this up.

[Hoyt]

1. I think they are his. He was on Jimmy Kimmel last night. He's still got that stupid laugh where

his whole body shakes. I will say he doesn't like trump.

[C_U_L8R]

2. He's had some free time for the last 12 years

That's plenty to sharpen his painting skills.

[Tommy Carcetti]

3. Honestly I'm fine with him painting if it keeps him out of the spotlight.

He's not that great a painter, but he's a better painter than he was a president so I'm sort of disappointed he didn't go that route in life instead.

But daddy issues and what not....

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

15. RE: I'm sort of disappointed he didn't go that route in life instead...

I felt the same way about Hitler.

[Carlitos Brigante]

4. I'd like to think this is some form of therapy for all the evil shit he did..... But

then again Jr. is not known for his self awareness....

[PatSeg]

13. Oh, I think it is

Unlike Trump, Bush was not a cruel, sadistic man and as such, I think he suffers tremendous guilt for all the pain and death he caused. I'm sure the art is a helpful therapy, though nothing can ever undo all the damage he has done to the world. I honestly don't know how he lives with the guilt.

[StarfishSaver]

5. That's not necessarily the case

Some people actually do go from very naive to pretty high quality painting, once they have the proper instruction.

Most people, even very artistically talented ones, without instruction or knowledge of art, know little, if anything, about values or shapes or building form, etc. They just draw what they THINK they see and that usually is flat an amateurish. But once they have a good teacher who can help them figure out how to translate what they are actually looking at onto a canvas can progress very quickly as artists. It's not uncommon.

I think Bush is one of those people.

[Jetheels]

7. Could be, especially since he had available to him many different teachers

and private instruction. As well as unlimited time and painting material expenses.

[StarfishSaver]

8. Yes.

I don't think having the materials is the issue. But good instruction and the time to focus and practice make a huge difference.

[Jetheels]

11. It certainly helps to have whatever materials you desire at your disposal.

And to use those materials without having to be worrying how much their costs are cutting into you monthly expenses you require to live on.

[Ilsa]

6. He's not stupid like Gov. Goodhair Perry.

He isn't sharp in public speaking, and may have some limitations in understanding, but he's probably above average in IQ. And I believe artistic expression comes from a different part of the brain.

Too bad he didn't pursue art instead of politics.

[Jetheels]

9. True, think of all the people that would not have died or been maimed.

Maybe we’d still have the World Trade Towers had him and Cheney not been in the White House.

[RussBLib]

10. Bush said someone high in the GOP...

...urged him to get into the immigration debate. Bush refused. Then this person suggested Bush paint immigrants, and he ran with that. Ok.

He's still a war criminal, IMHO.

[PatSeg]

12. My brother did something very similar

He had never shown much of an inclination or talent for drawing or painting. Then in middle age when he was bed-ridden after back surgery, he took up painting and found a talent he did not realize he had. It really does happen. People frequently discover talents and abilities late in life.

As for George W. Bush, I'd say he is a much better artist than he was a president. What a different world it would be if he hadn't decided to follow his father's footsteps into politics.

[MLAA]

14. Some people have natural artistic talent and experiment

with different styles as they develop. I have no doubt they are his paintings and I believe he has a great deal of talent. I never painted until I was about 55 and retired. I took weekly private lessons. When I compare my earliest work to what I do today I can see a great deal of improvement and development.

I’m no Bush fan as a president, but I do appreciate his art.

[Phoenix61]

16. Lots of time and private instruction

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-artist-taught-george-bush-paint/amp