[alnick]

Do you really think Bush picked that picture?

Laura selected the artist. The artist spent some time at the White House and did several sketches of several scenes, and finally decided on the piano. He had the piano moved so that it would be lit just so. He then spent several months doing the painting from photos and e-mailing the White House with digital pics showing his progress, which someone at the White House, maybe Laura, gave input (very little, according to the artist), and the result is the lovely card posted at the beginning of this thread.

[wimpycat]

I watched that program last night, too.

The only input the White House had on the Christmas card was that the artist had to work in oils and the painting had to be vertically oriented. And that was it, except for the minor suggestions you mentioned.

I think it's kind of neat, a Chinese born artist only a citizen for the past 7 years. He fully appreciated the honor of being chosen, too. He probably appreciated it more than most native born artists.