Simmie Knox, the first black artist to paint an official presidential portrait, is preparing to unveil his oil painting of former President Bill Clinton in a ceremony Monday at the White House.

The self-taught artist, best known for his portraits of black celebrities like baseball legend Hank Aaron and comedian Bill Cosby, also will unveil a painting of the former first lady, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

At the former president's request, the oil painting is set in the Oval Office. It will be the first presidential portrait in the White House collection to include the American flag.

Knox, who met with Clinton just before the former president left office, said he felt especially connected to him because they grew up under similar circumstances �� in a poor family in the segregated South.

At their meeting, Knox took dozens of photographs and discussed what Clinton, 57, would like to see in the portrait.

The portrait of Clinton for the other official presidential collection, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, will be done by artist Nelson Shanks, a gallery spokeswoman said.

Official portraits of presidents and first ladies often are unveiled at the same time, but rarely by the same artist. Hillary Clinton asked Knox to paint her after seeing some mock-ups of her husband's portrait.

Source: Agencies