George Walker Bush exhibits his portraits of world leaders.

[unloadonme]

I am trying to recall a British prime minister, whose father also occupied the same post....may be you can assist me?

There are two. William Pitt the Younger (Prime Minister 1783-1801 and 1804-06) was the son of William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (PM 1766-68). William Grenville, 1st Lord Grenville (PM 1806-07) was the son of George Grenville (PM 1763-65).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_the_United_Kingdom

But, the House of Lords is what it is.

The House of Lords is for the most part full of retired and failed politicians. The House of Lords Act 1999 removed the seats of all but 92 hereditary peers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Lords_Act_1999

...which is why Winston Churchill refused the offer of a earldom, fearing he would lose real influence having to vacate The Commons.

Most retiring Prime Ministers were at one time offered Earldoms, the most recent being Harold Macmillan who was created Earl of Stockton. Churchill was actually offered, and as you say declined, a Dukedom which is the highest rank in the peerage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honours_of_Winston_Churchill#Proposed_dukedom

I knew that about Churchill, but not of the watered down influence of the hereditary peers. Any data on what percentage are hereditary?

Currently, 87 peers out of 778 are hereditary.

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/composition-of-the-lords/

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

legal gangastas ans con folkys etc so on thereepy excericses

ha

_ hands a qucik which a pick pens a make alls atrick -

ha

thankyou

 

[bike10]

Like his 8 years of president he has no taste for art.

 

[J. Smithson 02]

I am loathed to give the man a compliment but I do have to admit that I like his paintings.

 

[eastofeden]

It should not be overlooked that for many people dealing with their personal demons (a recovering alcoholic in this case).

He isn't and has never been a recovering alcoholic. He is a dry drunk. Recovering alcoholics have to take responsibility for their actions in order to "recover". He is the polar opposite of a recovering alcoholic.

 

[zoltanspawn]

There are some people like Emily Dickinson who nurture their genius in private because they actually care about their art.

I would contrast her with Mr. Bush who seems in a rush to publicize his little hobby. Perhaps he's lost any reasonable kind of judgement, being used to flattery and privilege.

These amateurish efforts ought to have been pursued as a strictly private affair. Without the oddity of their origin, they wouldn't find much welcome outside the walls of a shabby coffee shop.

 

[rareboy]

If W wants to live out his days painting that's fine by me. I actually like his animal portraits.

He actually gets animals more than he gets humans.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

is nose a new area a art thang
_urban cheese_

thankyou

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

Politics are politics, and grudges last accordingly, but there is no question that his animal portraits, even stripped of celebrity attribution, would be commercially viable.

His cat painting posted above could easily be a poster, a greeting card, or other commercial art.

And, has been noted, he captures the spirit of his world leader subjects, if not perfect likenesses.

From an unsurprisingly complimentary Dallas article:



It is a very good assessment and I was surprised to find virtually my own thoughts in the excerpt above.

For anyone relishing the easy pickings of the former president's amateurish accomplishment, I challenge you to execute as competent a self-portrait as Bush's.

blink
just a businss a busniss
_ dat alwight then _

wind clock back few thousand centurys

haaaaaa

awsum

thankyou

 

[palbert]

GWB's paintings: Google images as art:

George Bush's paintings bear uncanny resemblance ... to Google images

Art critics point out that 30 portraits of world leaders appear to have been based on photos thrown up by search engine
....
Rather than have his subjects sit for him or use printed photographs, Bush seems to have based his portraits on the first picture thrown up by the search engine.
....
http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ngs-bear-uncanny-resemblance-to-google-images

I guess he did learn to use The Google. And Wikipedia.

 

[kallipolis]

That George W. has refreshed his memory, with Google sourced images of the world leaders does not change the fact that the portraits he has exhibited are his workmanship......

Using a photograph of my late partner I commissioned a local artist to paint his portrait ...the result impressed me...

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

That George W. has refreshed his memory, with Google sourced images of the world leaders does not change the fact that the portraits he has exhibited are his workmanship......

Using a photograph of my late partner I commissioned a local artist to paint his portrait ...the result impressed me...

not shock a awe then?

anyway

got a luv da way words pump da days

thankyou

 

[kallipolis]

^the brush is mightier than the sword

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

maye he a job parkins metar folk ans pants locals wildlife ans save world

thankyou

 

[ravenstar]

Some of them aren't all that bad. The one of John Howard makes him look like he's got his cheeks filled with acorns for the winter though

Honestly, I can't paint for shit, and these are better than I could produce. There's a certain something about them. I don't know what it is.

 

[MTLDude]

Not good by any standards I adhere to, but better then I expected, and way better then I would ever do...