Bulgarian-born artist to paint Pawlenty portrait

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has picked an artist to paint the official portrait that will hang in the halls of the Minnesota Capitol.

Pawlenty on Tuesday said he had selected Bulgarian-born Ross R. Rossin to capture his image as part of a tradition covering all past Minnesota governors. The portrait will go up sometime next year.

Rossin has brushed political portraits before, including those of former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Rossin became a citizen of the United States this year after almost a decade of living in the country. He calls Atlanta home.

Pawlenty says the artist's life story and quality of work won him the job.

A Pawlenty spokesman says the $25,200 cost will come from the governor's office budget.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)