George W. Bush has started painting portraits of dogs and arid Texas landscapes. Report: Bush takes up painting

Former President George W. Bush’s low profile since leaving office has left the Texan with a lot of time on his hands — and he’s using those hands to keep himself busy.

Bush has started painting, mostly portraits of dogs and arid Texas landscapes, according to New York Magazine. The 43rd president has plenty of material: He owns a 1,583-acre ranch near Crawford, Texas, and two Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley.


“I find it stunning that he has the patience to sit and take instruction and paint,” a former aide told the magazine.

The 66-year-old, whose second term concluded almost four years ago, does have an institute bearing his name at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and he travels frequently to Africa. But compared to globe-hopping Bill Clinton, who regularly tops the news cycle more than a decade after he left office, Bush has been little seen by the American public.