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Princess Turandot

(4,784 posts)
74. President Obama's painting is for the Nat'l Portrait Gallery's Hall of Presidents..
Mon Feb 12, 2018, 03:20 PM
Feb 2018

I believe that the 'official' portrait of the Presidents are the ones in the White House.

The ones in the NPG are not necessarily 'formal' looking. For example, JFK's was done by Elaine de Kooning: it's not the portrait best known of him with his arms folded, lost in thought, which is in the White House.



As to these, I like the one of PBO. I don't like the one of Michelle. The ashen/neutral skin color is the artist's signature style though, so she got what she wanted, I guess.

I don't know when any White House portraits will be done/installed. (The GW/Laura Bush ones were unveiled in 2012, in an event hosted by the Obamas.)

He Looks Like Him Me. Feb 2018 #1
That was my immediate impression too. Chemisse Feb 2018 #15
But the artist did a good job of capturing her long, bare arms... CTyankee Feb 2018 #23
I Do Me. Feb 2018 #26
I agree with "You." Sophia4 Feb 2018 #37
that was my thought as well. you notice that none of them scream about mel's bare arms. niyad Feb 2018 #62
Looks like him in ten years... 4139 Feb 2018 #32
This. nt tblue37 Feb 2018 #89
The portraits are different from the usual, but so were the Obamas. I like them. Hoyt Feb 2018 #2
Love the portraits! Iliyah Feb 2018 #3
Eh, I guess I'm unsophisticated. It's not my favs. NightWatcher Feb 2018 #4
Nice nice photo of them. irisblue Feb 2018 #6
Great photo of them. nt. NCTraveler Feb 2018 #17
+1 dalton99a Feb 2018 #18
Beautiful- perfect! ailsagirl Feb 2018 #24
This one. This is who they are. Grace & kindness.. Wwcd Feb 2018 #27
I really, really like this photo. Sophia4 Feb 2018 #36
+10000000 bronxiteforever Feb 2018 #64
Beautiful! Owl Feb 2018 #67
That is a great photo of them! smirkymonkey Feb 2018 #79
Now something like this would be a beautiful portrait. But the official doc03 Feb 2018 #87
They're such cuties.. make Cha Feb 2018 #92
Bad portrait of Michelle - it doesn't even look like her. SharonClark Feb 2018 #5
It's non-traditional, as were the Obamas. I like it. Art evolves, it doesn't have to stay the same. brush Feb 2018 #10
Non-traditional?!?! Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2018 #39
Ahhh...missed the point entirely. Maybe my use of "non-traditional" was too subtle. brush Feb 2018 #44
I agree... Michelles portrait was a let down and really doesnt look like her. lancelyons Feb 2018 #49
The image shown here does not reflect the actual work...poor lighting brush Feb 2018 #50
I like it. tenderfoot Feb 2018 #51
there are a lot of very good portraits (photographic and otherwise) of each... hlthe2b Feb 2018 #7
Maybe not, but wait until you see them in place. Hortensis Feb 2018 #20
Nope. Very much nope on both of those pnwest Feb 2018 #8
It is her BumRushDaShow Feb 2018 #11
Agree. She captured Michelle's eyes perfectly. n/t mobeau69 Feb 2018 #63
If you listen to the revealing ceremony and the speeches of the Obamas and the artists... brush Feb 2018 #47
I liked the Michelle portrait better when I saw the other paintings... LAS14 Feb 2018 #9
I dont care for either of them. Neither resembles spooky3 Feb 2018 #12
I have very mixed feelings. I like them (especially hers) as works of art. LisaM Feb 2018 #57
So Michelle was busy that day tavernier Feb 2018 #13
She painted lunasun Feb 2018 #28
I think these portraits are perfect complements to each other, Skidmore Feb 2018 #14
Well stated! Listen to what they and their artists said in remarks. nt LAS14 Feb 2018 #45
Really dislike the portraits. NCTraveler Feb 2018 #16
Nah. dalton99a Feb 2018 #19
Yuk! Not my cup-o-tea AT ALL! NurseJackie Feb 2018 #21
Cmon... cilla4progress Feb 2018 #22
Remember that statue Runningdawg Feb 2018 #25
I LOVE all their portraits. The paintings are part of African American Art styles, and ancianita Feb 2018 #29
Nope. llmart Feb 2018 #30
I'm afraid I don't care for either painting. Vinca Feb 2018 #31
If the Obamas like them... LakeArenal Feb 2018 #33
I'd like to see the portraits with a background of the White House. Sophia4 Feb 2018 #34
Michelle is unrecognizable, maybe that's why the artist left her so flat, faded procon Feb 2018 #35
It's important to see other paintings by the artist. That's what influenced Michelle's decision. LAS14 Feb 2018 #48
The artists had one job. procon Feb 2018 #56
You're missing one huge point. The Obamas picked the artists because they liked their styles brush Feb 2018 #65
They were polite. That's not an endorsement. procon Feb 2018 #68
You must not have watched the Obamas' speaches on the works. They were effusive in their praise. brush Feb 2018 #69
Would you really expect them to say something mean? nt procon Feb 2018 #71
What is it with you? Both praised the works. These are the Obamas, not the lying trumps. brush Feb 2018 #72
Oh noes, really? You're an artist, too? That's amazing... no, honest, procon Feb 2018 #75
Scoff all you want, change the subject too but that doesn't make your opinions of the works... brush Feb 2018 #77
Your opinion is on a comparable plane. nt procon Feb 2018 #84
I agree. I like the portrait but it doesn't matter. What does is Pres. Obama likes it. brush Feb 2018 #85
You WILL like the paintings! writerJT Feb 2018 #95
one of my deepest hopes cab67 Feb 2018 #38
I do not like the portrait of MO pandr32 Feb 2018 #40
I agree, the painting just doesn't do justice to her. She is a larger than life figure and smirkymonkey Feb 2018 #81
Well put. pandr32 Feb 2018 #91
Beautiful! dlk Feb 2018 #41
They could be better that's for sure BUT bluestarone Feb 2018 #42
It's not a great likeness of Barack and I wouldn't even recognize Michelle. Kablooie Feb 2018 #43
Reminds of Winston Churchill commenting on his portrait. edbermac Feb 2018 #46
Look at the size of the hands on that dude! Mr.Bill Feb 2018 #52
What "official" portraits? left-of-center2012 Feb 2018 #53
These are not the portraits that hang in the WH BumRushDaShow Feb 2018 #60
Beautiful! Nt Blue_playwright Feb 2018 #54
His is awesome. Hers doesn't look anything like her nt Abu Pepe Feb 2018 #55
I liked Obama but that potrait doc03 Feb 2018 #58
Louvre Pyramid: The Folly that Became a Triumph mobeau69 Feb 2018 #59
I have to say I don't like them. If they were an Official Interpretation, fair enough, but they are OnDoutside Feb 2018 #61
... I'm really impressed by all of the art critics here! progressoid Feb 2018 #66
Please stop... if people all had the same likes and dislikes there wouldn't even procon Feb 2018 #70
I didn't skim past anything. progressoid Feb 2018 #76
Why would the opinions of strangers on the internet bother you? procon Feb 2018 #80
Why does my opinion of the opinion of strangers on the internet bother you? progressoid Feb 2018 #82
You do see how this makes you look, yeah? nt procon Feb 2018 #83
Sure, progressoid Feb 2018 #88
Don't place too much importance on the procon Feb 2018 #93
If the people depicted in those portraits approve of them, MineralMan Feb 2018 #73
President Obama's painting is for the Nat'l Portrait Gallery's Hall of Presidents.. Princess Turandot Feb 2018 #74
hopefully whenever it happens Trump will be gone JI7 Feb 2018 #96
i loved the paintings! samnsara Feb 2018 #78
They look like they were painted by George W Bush Poiuyt Feb 2018 #86
I agree nt doc03 Feb 2018 #90
I wouldn't go THAT far Skittles Feb 2018 #99
I don't like them Skittles Feb 2018 #94
can't wait to see the trump portrait mnmoderatedem Feb 2018 #97
I love Obama but I'm not in love with his portrait here. musicblind Feb 2018 #98
I like these portraits. They are a different style than the usual and that's a good thing. beaglelover Feb 2018 #100
I love both paintings. madaboutharry Feb 2018 #101
I did not... Mike Nelson Feb 2018 #102
I would love to see a portrait of Michelle mainstreetonce Feb 2018 #103
I think they are historical and a reflection BittyJenkins Feb 2018 #104
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