Laura Bush: No George W. Bush Paintings In Presidential Library Until He Gets 'Better'

Unfortunately for visitors to George W. Bush's new presidential library, they won't get to see any of his paintings there -- yet.

In an interview with NPR's "Morning Edition" on Thursday, former first lady Laura Bush said her husband wasn't quite ready to show his work.

"No, none of the paintings are in the museum now," she said, "but maybe if he gets better at it."

The George W. Bush Presidential Center, housed at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, is being dedicated on Thursday. In attendance will be President Barack Obama and the other four living former presidents.

In her NPR interview, Laura Bush explained that her husband first showed an interest in art with a drawing app on his iPad.

"He was looking for a pastime, and he got an app on his iPad where he could draw pictures," she said. "He communicated with me if I was on the road, and with Barbara and Jenna with funny drawings ... Like, he would draw a picture of himself in bed with Barney and the cat."

Laura Bush added that they thought his drawings were "pretty good," with "a lot of personality and a lot of action."

He pursued his new hobby further after talking with presidential historian John Lewis Gaddis, who recommended that he read Winston Churchill's essay "Painting As a Pastime."

Listen to Laura Bush's interview: