President -LRB- and painter -RRB- George W. Bush 's artwork heading to Steamboat Springs for one-day exhibition . 
George W Bush
A self-portrait of 43rd President George W. Bush . 
-LRB- Provided by George W. Bush Presidential Center -RRB- . 
As part of the 9th annual Freedom Conference & Festival , a conservative confab taking place in Steamboat Springs next month , the paintings of 43rd President George W. Bush will be on display for attendees at the Steamboat Grand Hotel . 
"This is the first time the -LRB- Bush -RRB- exhibit has been shown in Colorado , giving state residents a unique opportunity to view this popular collection ," wrote Jackson Shedelbower , of the Steamboat Institute , in an email . 
The one-day exhibition on Friday , Aug. 25 , organized by the Steamboat Institute , marks the Colorado debut of Bush 's work from "The Art of Leadership : A President 's Personal Diplomacy" exhibition , which features paintings of world leaders Bush met during his tenure in the White House including Vladimir Putin , Angela Merkel , Hamid Karzai , Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tony Blair . 
Although some balked at the idea of Bush as a fine artist when he took up painting in his post-presidential retirement , the 71-year-old has stuck to his guns and humbly worked to improve his art . 
"Portraits of Courage : A Commander in Chief 's Tribute to America 's Warriors ," a book of Bush 's paintings of wounded U.S. military veterans that was published in February , netted surprisingly favorable reviews from critics and topped The Washington Post 's best-selling books list earlier this year . 
"-LRB- Bush -RRB- was really putting himself out there and taking a personal risk with these paintings , not knowing what people would think of them ," said Jennifer Schubert-Akin , CEO of the free-market , nonprofit Steamboat Institute . 
Bush will personalize a copy of the book that is being auctioned on the Steamboat Institute 's fundraiser as part of its $ 75-per-person Red , White & Blue Bash fundraiser on July 20 , Schubert-Akin said , with bidding starting at $ 300 . 
A portrait of 41st President George Bush by his son , 43rd President George W. Bush . 
-LRB- Provided by the George W. Bush Presidential Center -RRB- .
A self-portrait of 43rd President George W. Bush . 
-LRB- Provided by George W. Bush Presidential Center -RRB- . 
As part of the 9th annual Freedom Conference & Festival , a conservative confab taking place in Steamboat Springs next month , the paintings of 43rd President George W. Bush will be on display for attendees at the Steamboat Grand Hotel . 
"This is the first time the -LRB- Bush -RRB- exhibit has been shown in Colorado , giving state residents a unique opportunity to view this popular collection ," wrote Jackson Shedelbower , of the Steamboat Institute , in an email . 
The one-day exhibition on Friday , Aug. 25 , organized by the Steamboat Institute , marks the Colorado debut of Bush 's work from "The Art of Leadership : A President 's Personal Diplomacy" exhibition , which features paintings of world leaders Bush met during his tenure in the White House including Vladimir Putin , Angela Merkel , Hamid Karzai , Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tony Blair . 
Although some balked at the idea of Bush as a fine artist when he took up painting in his post-presidential retirement , the 71-year-old has stuck to his guns and humbly worked to improve his art . 
"Portraits of Courage : A Commander in Chief 's Tribute to America 's Warriors ," a book of Bush 's paintings of wounded U.S. military veterans that was published in February , netted surprisingly favorable reviews from critics and topped The Washington Post 's best-selling books list earlier this year . 
"-LRB- Bush -RRB- was really putting himself out there and taking a personal risk with these paintings , not knowing what people would think of them ," said Jennifer Schubert-Akin , CEO of the free-market , nonprofit Steamboat Institute . 
Bush will personalize a copy of the book that is being auctioned on the Steamboat Institute 's fundraiser as part of its $ 75-per-person Red , White & Blue Bash fundraiser on July 20 , Schubert-Akin said , with bidding starting at $ 300 . 
A portrait of 41st President George Bush by his son , 43rd President George W. Bush . 
-LRB- Provided by the George W. Bush Presidential Center -RRB- .