Artist behind THAT Trump portrait reveals her true feelings about it

The artist who enraged Donald Trump with an 'unflattering' portrait of him in the Colorado State Capitol has revealed her true feelings about it in resurfaced comments. 

Sarah Boardman created the president's likeness in 2019, but the artwork was removed from public view on Monday after he went ballistic on Truth Social.

Boardman previously described Trump's expression in the painting as 'neutrally thoughtful' and 'non-confrontational' when it was first unveiled.

She told the Colorado Times Recorder at the time that she did not seek to convey any 'personal feelings about any subject' she depicted and aimed for neutrality. 

Boardman's comment came in response to a question about reader objections to her portrayal of Trump. 

'The commission for which I was hired, as with Obama's, is to present a portrait for all viewers regardless of their stance on the issues related to the subject,' she said.

'There will always be dissent, so pleasing one group will always inflame another. 

'I consider a neutrally thoughtful, and non-confrontational, portrait allows everyone to reach their own conclusions in their own time, in addition to that approach being more durable over time. 

'Personal views about a subject do not define, and are separate from, a piece of art in the Gallery of Presidents.' 

The Colorado Times Recorder re-published the interview on Tuesday after Trump, 78, demanded the removal of the portrait in a lengthy post on Truth Social. 

Colorado lawmakers bowed to pressure from the president on Monday and removed the portrait from the state gallery. 

'Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves,' Trump wrote on Sunday via his social media platform. 

'But the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor... was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.'

Boardman also painted former President Barrack Obama during his stint in the White House, and Trump complained that she managed to do a much more successful job of his precursor. 

'He looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst,' he wrote. 

'She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one.'

Trump claimed 'many people from Colorado have called and written to complain' about the unflattering artwork.

The portrait was first unveiled in 2019 during Trump's first stint in the White House, so it is unclear what sparked his Sunday night complaint on social media. 

Back when the portrait was first unveiled in August 2019, Boardman shared pictures of her work on her professional Facebook page, hailing the 'great day.'

'The unveiling of the 45th President in the Gallery of Presidents, Rotunda, Denver State Capitol building,' she wrote.

'Thank you to all the dignitaries, staff, donors and visitors who attended and made this a wonderful event! Thank You, I appreciate you all more than you know. Feeling Very Grateful.

'Please remain respectful - this is about portraiture, not politics.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Boardman for her response to Trump's comments. 

Boardman was first commissioned to paint Obama's portrait for Colorado's State Capitol after she won the Call for Artists competition. 

Her appointment followed the death of Lawrence Williams in 2003, who painted all 43 previous presidential portraits in the official government building. 

Overall, Boardman has painted five presidential portraits including George W Bush, along with a District Court Judge, and several members of the US military.

'Sarah has always been passionate about painting portraits, being particularly intrigued by the depth and character found deeper in her subjects,' her website biography reads. 

'Sarah believes that the ultimate challenge is to capture the 'personality, character and soul' of an individual in a two-dimensional format. 

'She uses a combination of realism and painterly aspects designed to draw the viewer [a] into piece.'