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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, Crique, Louis Devienne

Crique

Louis Devienne

Painting - 68 x 44 x 2 cm Painting - 26.8 x 17.3 x 0.8 inch

$2,621

Painting, Village 28, Daozhou Huang

Village 28

Daozhou Huang

Painting - 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$585

Painting, Cintres, Claudine Picard

Cintres

Claudine Picard

Painting - 91 x 72 x 4 cm Painting - 35.8 x 28.3 x 1.6 inch

$819

Painting, Boy, Doby

Boy

Doby

Painting - 70 x 50 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

$760

Painting, Hope 2, Momchil Mitev

Hope 2

Momchil Mitev

Painting - 60 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

$994 $895

Painting, Ballerinas, Elena Sokolova

Ballerinas

Elena Sokolova

Painting - 50 x 60.2 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.7 x 0.4 inch

$551

Painting, Leviathan, Elena Chulkova

Leviathan

Elena Chulkova

Painting - 50 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$2,340

Painting, Briar, Ed Potapenkov

Briar

Ed Potapenkov

Painting - 140 x 110 x 2 cm Painting - 55.1 x 43.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,872

Painting, Dogs, Rusudan Zviadadze

Dogs

Rusudan Zviadadze

Painting - 70 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$585

Painting, My Garden, Les Panchyshyn

My Garden

Les Panchyshyn

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

$1,755

Painting, Deep Inside, Ewa Hauton

Deep Inside

Ewa Hauton

Painting - 130 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$4,563

Painting, Organic gold, Gery Vlady

Organic gold

Gery Vlady

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$679

Painting, Savvy, Elena Mardashova

Savvy

Elena Mardashova

Painting - 60 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$702

Painting, 108, Aldo Chaparro

108

Aldo Chaparro

Painting - 80 x 80 x 6 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 2.4 inch

$14,040

Painting, BC 42, Art Rez

BC 42

Art Rez

Painting - 60 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$924

Painting, Geisha, Mamen Coranti

Geisha

Mamen Coranti

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

$936

Painting, Roses bleues, Chesca

Roses bleues

Chesca

Painting - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$702

Painting, MouseBlaser, Amir Kerr

MouseBlaser

Amir Kerr

Painting - 50 x 60 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 inch

$585

Painting, Fake Abstract, Lino Lago

Fake Abstract

Lino Lago

Painting - 110 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 43.3 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$6,000

Painting, The Races, Irina Zdanko

The Races

Irina Zdanko

Painting - 85 x 121 x 1 cm Painting - 33.5 x 47.6 x 0.4 inch

$4,914

Painting, NYX, Frédéric Halbreich

NYX

Frédéric Halbreich

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

$2,808

Painting, Sans titre, Talon

Sans titre

Talon

Painting - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$702

Painting, La bistro, Viktor Shvaiko

La bistro

Viktor Shvaiko

Painting - 61 x 81.3 x 2.5 cm Painting - 24 x 32 x 1 inch

$8,200

Painting, Njinga, Nadine Denjean

Njinga

Nadine Denjean

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$796

Painting, Horizon, François Sauvage

Horizon

François Sauvage

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

$877

Painting, Chambre #2, Liu Xin Tao

Chambre #2

Liu Xin Tao

Painting - 150 x 150 x 3 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 1.2 inch

$17,550

Painting, La ferme, André Demonchy

La ferme

André Demonchy

Painting - 38 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 15 x 24 x 0.8 inch

$5,265

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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

$1,228 $1,106

Painting, Orgasm, Dasha Pogodina

Orgasm

Dasha Pogodina

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

$2,714

Painting, Régate, Pierrick Tual

Régate

Pierrick Tual

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

$842

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.