These paintings are very good. Original author seems hung up on the fact that they are not realistic enough or technically refined. I would argue that they are technically refined. The thickness of the paint, texture, handling, the palette--they all suggest that Bush has given a lot of time to thinking about how to construct a painting and what a painting should say. The content is very ambitious. He's not painting a pretty landscape, or copying a photograph, or trying to be as realistic as possible--these are the goals of small-time, minor painters. Bush is a major painter.
I think people judging it for the sake of the art are missing the point. To me, the pieces scream of depression. His legs in a still bath? Staring in to a mirror in the shower?<p>What do you imagine life to be in the waning retirement years of the former president of the most powerful country on earth? What a jarring contrast it must be.
<i>"What it means in practice is that we tend to spend free time consuming culture instead of making it. Instead of writing a story or attempting to paint something or learning a piece of music, we watch TV or go to a movie.<p>There’s nothing wrong with consuming culture, of course. But what are we losing if that time is never spent making things, and making them for their own sake?"</i><p>Beautifully said, and reminds me of this equally beautiful tweet by why_:<p><i>"when you don't create things, you become defined by your tastes rather than ability. your tastes only narrow & exclude people. so create."</i>
Link to paintings: <a href="http://www.blackbookmag.com/art/george-w-bush-s-paintings-revealed-1.58392" rel="nofollow">http://www.blackbookmag.com/art/george-w-bush-s-paintings-re...</a><p>I couldn't figure out what the heck everybody was talking about.
It is pretty fascinating. For a man not particularly known for his humility in office, the paintings show a lot of vulnerability. I'm hoping this isn't a prank.