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Oil Painting for Sale

Oil painting is a painting technique that involves mixing finely ground color pigments with a binding oil, typically linseed oil, though poppy seed oil is also used. Before applying the paint, the surface must be coated with a primer to ensure proper adhesion. This step is essential for the durability and versatility of the medium, allowing artists to paint on various surfaces such as wood, canvas, or metal.

The origins of oil painting trace back to the Middle Ages, but it was the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck who is often credited with refining the technique. His experiments led to new levels of transparency and depth in artworks, influencing other Flemish painters who helped spread the method. Oil painting soon replaced tempera, which relied on egg yolk as a binder, and became the dominant medium in European art.

During the 15th century, wooden panels gave way to stretched linen canvases mounted on frames, enabling artists to work on larger, more flexible surfaces. This transition, however, came with challenges, as oil paint contained toxic components and required skilled preparation. Despite this, the Renaissance saw a surge in its popularity, with Venetian painters like Titian and Flemish masters such as Rubens embracing the medium. Dutch painters, led by Rembrandt, further advanced oil painting techniques, making it a defining feature of Baroque and later artistic movements.

The 19th and 20th centuries cemented oil painting as the preferred medium for modern artists. Industrialization revolutionized its use, with the invention of pre-packaged paint tubes in France in 1840. This innovation played a key role in the emergence of Impressionism, allowing painters to work outdoors, capturing light and movement in ways never before possible. A century later, acrylic paint began to challenge oil painting due to its quick drying time and ease of use.

A fundamental rule in oil painting is the fat-over-lean principle, ensuring durability by applying layers with higher oil content over those with lower oil content. This method prevents cracking and enhances the painting's longevity. While traditional oil painting techniques continue to thrive, contemporary artists often experiment with unconventional approaches. Some painters leave the canvas unprimed to highlight its raw texture, while abstract artists such as Jackson Pollock abandoned classical methods altogether, using dripping techniques to create spontaneous, dynamic compositions.

Oil painting remains a cornerstone of the art world, with countless artists still using this historic technique to produce remarkable works. On Artsper, discover contemporary oil paintings by renowned artists such as Arman, Salvador Dalí, and Robert Combas, showcasing the timeless beauty and versatility of this celebrated medium.

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Painting, Les grives, Paul Mathey

Les grives

Paul Mathey

Painting - 27 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting - 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

£847

Painting, I Love New York, Ludo

I Love New York

Ludo

Painting - 50 x 50 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 inch

£1,760

Painting, Untitled, Moko Khachatryan

Untitled

Moko Khachatryan

Painting - 197 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 77.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

£3,696

Painting, Dark Hole, God Sylver

Dark Hole

God Sylver

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

£1,232

Painting, At Dusk, Nick Vivian

At Dusk

Nick Vivian

Painting - 80 x 80 x 5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 2 inch

£1,800

Painting, Amor indio, Maritza Bernal

Amor indio

Maritza Bernal

Painting - 101 x 76 x 2 cm Painting - 39.8 x 29.9 x 0.8 inch

£1,760

Painting, Motion 1.2, Eduard Churkin

Motion 1.2

Eduard Churkin

Painting - 90 x 139 x 4 cm Painting - 35.4 x 54.7 x 1.6 inch

£9,681

Painting, Régates, Victor Spahn

Régates

Victor Spahn

Painting - 89 x 116 x 3 cm Painting - 35 x 45.7 x 1.2 inch

£4,400

Painting, Sensations, MIZ

Sensations

MIZ

Painting - 40 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

£1,760

Painting, Laura, Joanna Wojtowicz

Laura

Joanna Wojtowicz

Painting - 75 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

£1,408

Painting, Space cake, Anna Pikos

Space cake

Anna Pikos

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

£2,640

Painting, Cad'Déb', René Goxes

Cad'Déb'

René Goxes

Painting - 50 x 65 x 5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 25.6 x 2 inch

£1,848

Painting, Island Man, Qin Tan

Island Man

Qin Tan

Painting - 51 x 41 x 2.54 cm Painting - 20.1 x 16.1 x 1 inch

£3,460

Painting, Tchin, Isabelle Lebret

Tchin

Isabelle Lebret

Painting - 60 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

£1,936

Painting, The Cave, Müge Ceyhan

The Cave

Müge Ceyhan

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

£2,640

Painting, Arlequin, Michel Gourlier

Arlequin

Michel Gourlier

Painting - 60 x 51 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 20.1 x 1.2 inch

£704

Painting, Ajoke, Theophilus Madaki

Ajoke

Theophilus Madaki

Painting - 104.1 x 81.3 x 2.5 cm Painting - 41 x 32 x 1 inch

£1,538

Painting, Dada Awuru, Victor Morawo

Dada Awuru

Victor Morawo

Painting - 83.8 x 58.4 x 2.5 cm Painting - 33 x 23 x 1 inch

£2,076

Painting, Chaoscopy, Tic

Chaoscopy

Tic

Painting - 150 x 210 x 0.1 cm Painting - 59.1 x 82.7 x 0 inch

£1,144

Painting, Sunrise, Ribal Molaeb

Sunrise

Ribal Molaeb

Painting - 100 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

£8,493

Painting, Love Story I, Alik Gerber

Love Story I

Alik Gerber

Painting - 70 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

£1,584

Painting, Expired, Robert Tillberg

Expired

Robert Tillberg

Painting - 152.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm Painting - 60 x 48 x 1.5 inch

£2,422

Painting, Blue Sky, Mubaraq Yusuf

Blue Sky

Mubaraq Yusuf

Painting - 101.6 x 76.2 x 2.5 cm Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 inch

£2,076

Painting, Sans titre, Mattevski

Sans titre

Mattevski

Painting - 80 x 80 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 inch

£1,584

Painting, Berries, Vitaly Duhnevich

Berries

Vitaly Duhnevich

Painting - 31 x 31 x 2 cm Painting - 12.2 x 12.2 x 0.8 inch

£202

Painting, Protector, D'Andra Buchanan

Protector

D'Andra Buchanan

Painting - 60.5 x 60.5 x 3 cm Painting - 23.8 x 23.8 x 1.2 inch

£2,816

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Painting, Discogolf, Ralph Resch

Discogolf

Ralph Resch

Painting - 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

£924

Painting, Orgasm, Dasha Pogodina

Orgasm

Dasha Pogodina

Painting - 90 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

£2,042

Painting, Régate, Pierrick Tual

Régate

Pierrick Tual

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

£634

Need help with Oil Painting for Sale ?
What is special about oil painting?

Oil painting allows for very efficient mixing of colors and tones. Due to its long drying time, it is possible to alter an oil painting days after the paint has been applied. Oil painting also allows for precision and a range of visual effects.

What's the difference between oil painting and acrylic?

Oil paint and acrylic paint are produced using different materials. While oil painting consists of pigments suspended in drying oils, acrylic paint is water-based. The main difference between the two is that acrylic paints can be thinned down with water, and dry faster than oil paints.

Is oil painting easier than watercolor?

It is easier to correct mistakes when working in oil paint as they are more opaque than watercolors and can be easily scraped off a surface.