Washington: Former U.S. President George W. Bush has displayed a series of portraits of world leaders that he has painted in a new pursuit. The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also featured in the exhibit.

An exhibition titled “The Art of Leadership: A President’s Personal Diplomacy” has opened recently at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas.

It highlighted the paintings of George Bush on some two dozen prominent world figures he worked with during his 2001-2009 presidency tenure. Important portraits among them are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Dalai Lama.

A self-portrait and a painting of his father, George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of USA, also are part of the exhibit.
Bush had no interest in painting until leaving the White House. After reading Winston Churchill’s essay “Painting as a Pastime” he started showing interests in drawing portraits. His earliest works included quick drawings made for family members with an iPad app.

Video on George Bush’s Portrait exhibition