Thought the same. It amazes me that Lucien Freud is so lionized. His hideous portrait of Queen Elizabeth looks like he fed paint to a dog and made the dog vomit on the canvas.
Elizabeth II by Lucien Freud
Posted on 04/15/2014 5:26:20 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
See post 56.
I just like the fact that Bush is willing to take his artwork public despite knowing it’s far from polished, and knowing that he’ll be derided for it by the usual suspects. He’s like Reagan in that he has a very centered kind of humility about him.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly. And it does take courage. One must make oneself vulnerable at very intimate levels to show one’s work at all, and for a former President to the world... He is very brave indeed.
I imagine it isn’t easy to go onward and upward from POTUS in one’s curriculum vitae, but the man is on his way to doing so.
Agree. To me his portraits are Modigliani-ish.
Thought the same. It amazes me that Lucien Freud is so lionized. His hideous portrait of Queen Elizabeth looks like he fed paint to a dog and made the dog vomit on the canvas.
Elizabeth II by Lucien Freud
LOL! But if that’s Obama, that must be Boehner standing next to him!
Heh, yeah. I don’t think Lucien was into the subject, except for the tiara which is beautifully rendered. The hair is terrible two dimensional pattern work. His best work is done with sitting models (understandably), and I doubt Her Majesty did so for him.
I truly hope that W commits himself to this, and turns his back on politics. He wants to be an honest and candid man. Art offers unparalleled opportunity for that. His joy in this is obvious. I hope he pursues it.
I am a long time meditator. I recently took a class where we had an instructor come in and teach us painting. I was amazed at how quickly painting put me into the same non-mental state as my meditation sessions.
Now I understand why painters paint.
That is a very interesting observation. It confirms some things for me.
Studio art or even bench crafting is good for the soul. It changes how one looks at the world, and what one is on the inside, PROVIDED it is an exploration. An academic, by the numbers approach will kill it dead.
Sadly, you are correct. There has already been talk that Zero plans to “retire” in the Washington, D.C. area. Hawaii is just too far away from the Beltway for a full-time residence. Penny Pritzker better plan on buying the Obamas a suburban estate in Virginia or Maryland, along with a beach-front vacation home in Hawaii. And of course, he’ll need an office, staff and Secret Service security in both locations, not to mention secure travel from the east coast to the islands.
Book it: Barry Obama will be the most expensive former president in U.S. history, and there’s no telling what he will grant himself by executive fiat before leaving offfice
Years ago I used to shoot tournament archery. I would have the exact same experience. Your focus is so intense that time seems to slow down. It go to the point that I could actually see the arrow leave my bow and travel tot he target.
Good one!
Yours was an interesting observation as well. Thank you for sharing. I think the instructor of my class said that it puts one in the non-analytical brain side ( can’t recall if that’s right or left). It is good for the soul as you said. But meditation is easier!
Do you paint?
Do you paint?
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Did. I haven’t in years though. Sculpted as well.
This is a part of why I enjoy some of these paintings by Bush so much. The artist depicts the world he sees; the world looks at that work and in turn sees into the artist. That takes a lot of courage and confidence. The ego stands naked in the public square.
The good will and candor seen in these is a reflection of W’s personality. I have mixed feelings about the presidency. I like and respect the man very much.
RE: it takes courage to put your art out in front of the whole world, especially when you know it’s only mediocre. I’m sure he doesn’t need the money, or the validation.
Speaking of validation, Vincent Van Gogh, whose paintings sell to well over a hundred million dollars today only sold one painting in his lifetime.
How much do you think Bush’s paintings will sell for IF they were for sale?
I’ve no doubt Dubya selling his art could make an income most of us would consider pretty good. But it would be based on his being a celebrity with a pre-existing following, wouldn’t it? Not on painterly technique and penetrating insight of his subjects.
I hope W finds peace. He bore some tremendous burdens. I didn’t agree with a lot of things he did, but he seemed like he genuinely cared about the country.
Bush can paint, speak Spanish, and fly a jet plane. Sarah Palin was starting point guard on a championship basketball team, plays the flute, was a beauty contest finalist, and can hunt, fish, and skin a deer. Neither of the Obamas can do any of these things, yet Bush and Palin are portrayed as morons and the Obamas are portrayed as Renaissance geniuses.
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