The Art of George W. Bush and the Importance of Play

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 &#38; 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.

Hitler's stuff was way better than this. Search for it and judge for yourself. Not even close in my opinion.