CBS ‘Early Show’ Unveils Barack Obama Mural on Set

Near the end of Thursday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith unveiled the latest painting by artist Peter Max, a mural of 44 portraits of Barack Obama. Max has created numerous paintings for the Early Show set and Smith praised the artist’s latest work: "Okay, wow. That is really, really, really cool...Wow. Well, that is pretty impressive. I hope somebody in the President-elect's transition office is taking a look at this. That is really amazing. Wow."

Smith asked Max: "What is your feeling as an artist as we come up on to this inauguration time and time of change?" Max replied: "Unbelievable, unbelievable. You know that night when he was announced being president and the whole country cried, I was in that same place...I couldn't believe it." Max later remarked on how: "You know, galleries from all over the country have called. I mean, I don't -- wouldn't even know where to start...I just love doing him. Doesn't he -- he just looks great...Young, energetic, fantastic guy." Smith ended the segment by declaring: "Wow...Yeah. Has a good smile, too, right? There you go. Peter, thank you so much...Really, really like it."

Here is the full transcript of the segment:

8:31AM TEASE:

JULIE CHEN: Plus, the fabulous Peter Max is here to unveil his brand-new paintings honoring President-elect Obama.

8:44AM TEASE:

HARRY SMITH: Up next, artist Peter Max unveils his new work in honor of President-elect Obama. Morning, Peter.

8:46AM SEGMENT:

HARRY SMITH: Peter Max likes to paint patriotic themes such as the American flag or the Statue of Liberty, we've seen plenty of those. He's painted many of the presidents. And this morning, in honor of President-elect Obama, he has painted -- well, I want to see. Can we make this go up or go down?

[CURTAIN RISES, UNVEILING MURAL OF OBAMA PORTRAITS ON EARLY SHOW SET]

SMITH: How many Obamas?

PETER MAX: 44. 44th president, 44 Obamas.

SMITH: That was -- okay. Way to go. How long does it take to do something like this?

MAX: It took me a long time. You know, I was getting calls about painting Obama forever.

SMITH: Yeah.

MAX: And so I finally, like, decided to do it, and I love the way it came out.

SMITH: Are all of the faces the same?

MAX: There are two kinds, two faces. They go back and forth.

SMITH: Okay, alright, because one is a little-

MAX: He's a little animated that way.

SMITH: Right. So the whole thing becomes a little more animated in a whole different way.

MAX: Yeah.

SMITH: Now, do you know -- you do one at a time and just say 'I'm' -- how do you know that one really shouldn't be over here, and this one shouldn't be over there?

MAX: Well, you know what I do, Harry, I paint them each individually-

SMITH: Right.

MAX: -and then I lay them out and it becomes an editing job.

SMITH: Right.

MAX: And I edit them out until I like the way they look.

SMITH: Okay, wow. That is really, really, really cool. What is your feeling as an artist as we come up on to this inauguration time and time of change?

MAX: Unbelievable, unbelievable. You know that night when he was announced being president and the whole country cried, I was in that same place-

SMITH: Yeah, yeah.

MAX: I couldn't believe it. And I liked it enough -- of course, the first one I ever painted was for you guys here a few months back.

SMITH: Sure. During the actual campaign. Wow. Well, that is pretty impressive. I hope somebody in the President-elect's transition office is taking a look at this. That is really amazing. Wow.

MAX: Yeah. They're going to be on petermax.com. People will be able to see them. I may do some prints of them. And it's unbelievable.

SMITH: Yeah.

MAX: You know, galleries from all over the country have called. I mean, I don't -- wouldn't even know where to start.

SMITH: Right.

MAX: I just love doing him. Doesn't he -- he just looks great.

SMITH: Wow.

MAX: Young, energetic, fantastic guy.

SMITH: Yeah. Has a good smile, too, right? There you go. Peter, thank you so much.

MAX: Thanks.

SMITH: Really, really like it.