'And here's Putin': George W. Bush reveals his striking new paintings of world leaders as wife Laura reveals she encouraged him to unleash his 'inner Rembrandt'

Bush has painted 24 images of world leaders that are part of an exhibition at his presidential library in Texas



The paintings, including his father George H.W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, Tony Blair and the Dalai Lama, were revealed on the Today show on Friday

His mother Barbara said she liked the image her son had painted of her husband - but that he would 'absolutely not' be allowed to paint her

Bush says he hopes the leaders take the images 'in the spirit of friendship'

The former president, who started painting when he left the White House, said that he does not think he is a good artist but that he's improving



President-turned-painter George W. Bush has unveiled his portraits of world leaders - as his wife Laura revealed she encouraged him to unleash his inner artist after he mastered a drawing app.



The new collection by the former president, who picked up the paintbrush after leaving the White House, includes Tony Blair, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Dalai Lama.

Most striking is a stern-looking Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Bush said his favorite was the painting of his father, George H. W. Bush.



The oil paintings, which were shared on the Today show in an interview with his daughter Jenna Bush Hager, show an improvement in Bush's skills since the self portraits of him in the bath were leaked last year.

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Self portrait: George W. Bush shows his daughter Jenna his self portrait at his presidential library as he unveils two dozen images of world leaders he has painted. The images were shared on the Today show on Friday

'Tense relationship': He showed his image of Putin as he said that they had been friendly throughout his time in the White House, but that Putin had always felt as if the U.S. were the enemy Alike? He said that the image of Putin was supposed to reflect the attitude he had towards Bush of one-upmanship; he recounted a story in which Putin said 'my dog is bigger than yours' Bush said he was inspired to pick up the paintbrush by Winston Churchill, who discovered his love for painting when he was 40.



'I wanted to make sure that the last chapters of my life were full,' he told his daughter in the interview. 'Painting would occupy not only space but open my mind.'

But he added: 'I was a little reluctant to put them out because I'm not a great artist and I don't want people to think I'm a great artist. But... I'm a driven person and I want to get better. A whole new world has opened up.'

His wife Laura, who joined him for part of the interview, said she had encouraged him to paint after he mastered a writing and drawing iPhone application, Penultimate.



On show: A photographer portraits of world leaders painted by Bush, including Canada's Stephen Harper, Abu Dhabi's Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, South Korea's Lee Myung-bak and France's Nicolas Sarkozy Former leader: Italian Silvio Berlusconi is also part of the exhibit 'The Art of Leadership', which opens Friday



Artwork: Among the 24 leaders, he also painted the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel Comparison: The image of Merkel is part of an exhibition, 'The Art of Leadership', at Bush's Dallas library Blair Similar? Bush said that the images, including this one of Tony Blair, were painted 'in the spirit of friendship' 'He started drawing very interesting stick figures to communicate with us,' she said. So Bush got a few pointers from a teacher, telling her: ' There's a Rembrandt trapped in this body. It's your job to unleash him', he told the Today show.

He started drawing images of the family's pets, including their late dog Barney. And last year, a hacker leaked some of his images, including him in the bath and him looking in a mirror.

'I was annoyed,' Bush said. 'It's an invasion of one's privacy... nor do I want my paintings to get out. 'The truth of the matter is my paintings are not ready to be released. I mean, I'm still learning, and I don't know if they ever will be or not.' Rendition: He also painted the Dalai Lama, who has previously said he is impressed by Bush Friendships: He said none of the leaders, including the Dalai Lama, above, had seen the images Friends: Another shows Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, alongside photos of Bush meeting him Likeness: Another of Bush's paintings, left, shows Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, right On show: Margaret Spellings (R), president of the George W. Bush Presidential Center speaks alongside Amy Polley, library and museum curator as the exhibition opens on Friday Featured: A detail, left, shows the portrait of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, right

Speaking to his daughter, who is a special correspondent on the Today show, he added that the most important thing he has learned so far is, 'don't paint your wife,' he said. Of his portrait of her, wife Laura laughed: 'Yeah, it still needs some work.' And his mother, Barbara Bush, also had some critique for her son's art. 'That's my husband?' she joked when she saw the image of George H.W. Bush for the first time on the Today show, before adding: 'I really like it.' When asked if she thought her son captured the essence of her husband, she paused before saying: 'I think maybe he did. I like it very much... He's good.'

Bush, who began painting when he left the White House, also painted Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Getting better: He has captured Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, pictured right this week Memories: He shared his image of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert alongside photos of them together Copy: Above, his image of Israel's former prime minister Ehud Olmert, who is pictured right in 2009

Remembered: He painted Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, who passed away in 2011 He also painted the late Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel, pictured right in the Oval Office in 2002



Proud of his work: He shows his daughter his painting of former Japanese president Junichiro Koizumi Long-time friends: He also painted Japan's former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Exhibition: A painting shows the former President of the People's Republic of China, Jiang Zemin On the wall: There is also a portrait of former Mexican President Felipe Calderon, above



But she quipped that she will not allow her son to paint her because 'it might look like me'.

As his paintings of the world leaders were revealed, Bush said he hopes the leaders will like them. None of them have yet seen the images, he said.

'I hope they take it in the spirit in which these were painted in,' he said. 'That was the spirit of friendship and that I admire them as leaders and was willing to give it a shot in terms of getting people to see how I felt about them.'

Speaking about the artwork brought back images of his time with the world leaders, especially Putin. He said they had a good relationship, but that he always thought Putin saw the U.S. as an enemy.



Budding artist: Bush said he was inspired by Winston Churchill to pick up the paintbrush later in life

Side projects: While his brother is now in the political spotlight, former President George Bush (right, with his wife Laura) unveiled a gallery of his work at his presidential library in Texas last week Practice: He used the iPhone app, Penultimate, to send messages and drawings (pictured) to the family He added that the Russian leader once took it too far when he criticized his beloved Scottish terrier, Barney, saying, 'You call that a dog?' He explained that he later visited Putin and met his dog, whom the Russian leader noted was ‘bigger, stronger and faster than Barney'. 'I didn't react,' he said. 'I just said, "Wow. Anybody who thinks ‘my dog is bigger than your dog’ is an interesting character." And that painting kind of reflects that.'

The two-term president has led a significantly quieter life since leaving office - spending much of his time painting and going on mountain bike rides with groups of veterans like Wounded Warrior. In an interview with the Dallas Morning News last year, Bush added that painting gives him an opportunity to 'create.' He also reflected on what others think of his work. Outspoken: Former First Lady Barbara Bush, Jeb's mother, has said in the past that she does not think another member of her family should be in the White House 'Joyous experience': Bush said the painting of his father, George H. W. Bush was his favorite

'People are surprised,' Bush said. 'Of course, some people are surprised I can even read.'

In March last year, an artist who taught Bush how to paint both animals and landscapes in a recent month-long course spoke out his skills as a late-in-life painter.

He had spent four weeks in private lessons alongside his sister-in-law in a home in Boca Grande, Florida where they improved their technique and expanded their artistic horizons.

'He has such a passion for painting, it's amazing,' said instructor Bonnie Flood.



'The Art of Leadership: A President's Personal Diplomacy' will be held at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Work: Some of his paintings, including images of dogs and self-portraits, have previously been seen Honing his skills: After painting the family pets, he said he then began painting landscapes

Revealed: Some of the images, including ones of him in the shower and a bathtub, were leaked last year

Invasive: Bush said that he felt that much of his artwork wasn't ready for public viewing

The museum explained the exhibition 'will explore the relationships that President George W. Bush forged with world leaders to shape international policy and advance American interests abroad.'



'The exhibit will feature more than two dozen never-before-exhibited portraits painted by President Bush,' it said.