George W. Bush unveils portraits of world leaders

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Portraits of world leaders painted by former President George W. Bush are part of the exhibit "The Art of Leadership: A President's Diplomacy," on display in Dallas on April 4, 2014. AP
Former British Prime Minister Tony BlairAP
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Russian President Vladimir PutinGetty Images
German Chancellor Angela MerkelReuters
A self portrait of former President George W. Bush.AP
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Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro KoizumiReuters
Former President George H.W. BushAP
Former Czech President Vaclav HavelReuters
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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud OlmertGetty Images
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki AP
Liberian President Ellen Johnson SirleafReuters
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Indian Prime Minister Manmohan SinghAP
Afghan President Hamid Karzai AP
Former Pakistani President Pervez MusharrafAP
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Former President George W. Bush has moved into his “world leader” phase.

On Friday’s “Today” show, Bush unveiled his latest artistic efforts, including several new paintings of world leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Bush told his daughter, “Today” correspondent Jenna Bush Hager, that he tried to capture the personalities of each world leader on the canvas. His subjects have yet to see the paintings — and Bush isn’t sure how they’ll react.

“I don’t think he has [seen it],” Bush said, referring to Blair. “No telling how these people are going to react when they see their portrait. I think I told Tony I was painting him, but he kind of brushed it off, so to speak.”

“I like it because it conveys a compassionate person and a strong person and a reliable friend,” he added.

As for that Putin portrait, Bush said he was inspired by the time the Russian president dissed Bush’s dog, saying his hound was “bigger, stronger and faster than Barney,” Bush’s Scottish terrier.

“I just took it in. I didn’t react,” he told his daughter. “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.”

Bush, who signs his art with the number “43,” picked up painting after leaving office in 2009. Some of his most memorable paintings include a self-portrait in the shower. Also in the collection are portraits of the Dalai Lama, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. These and more than two dozen other paintings by Bush will be featured at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, located on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, as part of an exhibit titled “The Art of Leadership: A President’s Personal Diplomacy.” The exhibit will run until June 3.

“Who woulda thought it?” the 43rd president told his daughter on “Today.” “I was a little reluctant to put them out [publicly], because I’m not a great artist. I don’t want people to think I’m a great artist.”

But even former First Lady Laura Bush is supportive of his creative efforts.

“I did encourage him after he got Penultimate on his iPad and started drawing very interesting stick figure characters to communicate with you and Barbara and with me when I was on the road,” she told their daughter.

One person Bush won’t be painting is his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, who when shown a portrait of her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, joked: “That’s my husband?!” But she said she would “absolutely not” pose for a painting because, “As good as he is, it might look like me!”