Staffers of a Russian charity hold an oil painting by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009

It's Vladimir Putin and oil again, but this time the oil is on canvas.

The Russian prime minister has painted a still life to be sold at a charity auction.

Polina Vavilina of the Tsarskoselskaya Fair Foundation said Wednesday that Putin took the brush during a visit to the St. Petersburg charity in December.

She said Putin took less than half an hour to complete the painting of a frosted window inside a Russian log hut with embroidered curtains. A professional artist added beads and small pieces of lace to the canvas.

The painting will be sold Saturday. Vavilina said it's impossible to predict how much Putin's creation will sell for.

During Putin's eight years as president, Russia's oil wealth became a symbol of Kremlin power.

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