Blair flattered by George W. Bush painting

Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair is a big fan of former President George W. Bush’s artwork.

{mosads}Bush, who has taken to painting in the years since leaving office, depicted Blair in a recent portrait that the former Labour Party leader seemed to appreciate.

“I think he’s flattering me,” Blair said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I wish I looked that good.”

Bush has been an active painter of landscapes as well as portraits of world leaders. In addition to Blair, he has also done depictions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Dalai Lama and others.

The paintings were unveiled at a show at his presidential libraries earlier this month.

Bush has said that he’s “not a great artist,” but “I’m a driven person and I want to get better.”

Blair isn’t the only fan of the new work.

White House press secretary Jay Carney, who covered the Bush administration as a reporter for Time magazine, said this month that he was both “surprised and impressed by the pursuit that he’s taken up and the clear dedication he has given it.”

Bush and Blair worked closely and often saw eye-to-eye while both countries were engaged in military action in Iraq.