FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Professor Vilas Tonape of Methodist University describes his painting lesson with the former president of the United States as a, “once in a lifetime kind of deal.”

• Vilas Tonape gave former President George W. Bush a painting lesson
• Former first lady Laura Bush was the subject
• Tonape says he was very attentive  

George W. Bush has been taking up painting since leaving the White House and he wanted to learn about painting a portrait using a live model. The subject wasn’t too far away.

"So, the secret service told me that Mrs. Bush was kind enough to volunteer and she would like to sit," the professor said.

As the former president watched, professor Tonape painted.

“He seemed like very attentive, very sensitive to what I was doing. So, I felt more like I was teaching a post-graduate student rather than an undergraduate student," he said.

Professor Tonape says the former president stepped away for a few seconds and when he returned, he quickly remarked on the smallest adjustment to the portrait of Mrs. Bush.

"As soon as he got back, he noticed. ‘Oh, that's interesting what you did with those lips, that red color, How did you make that red color,’” he said.

At the end of the lesson, it's normal for the artist to wash the brushes. This time, the student insisted on washing the brushes of the teacher.

“And I told him, ‘Mr. President, will you please not do that? He said why ? I had no answer for him. So, i said

No...it's fine,’” professor Tonape said. "He treated me like a professor and himself like a student."

Tonape says the lesson was an experience he will never forget.

"He seemed like a very smart guy...and very funny. Very, very funny. My gosh, he had sense of humor."