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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, Victory, Agboola Oladapo

Victory

Agboola Oladapo

Painting - 182.9 x 146.3 x 2.5 cm Painting - 72 x 57.6 x 1 inch

$7,000

Painting, XXX, Emils Braunbergs

XXX

Emils Braunbergs

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

$1,424

Painting, The city, Clara Duch

The city

Clara Duch

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$2,966

Painting, Brouillard, Gauthier Bruel

Brouillard

Gauthier Bruel

Painting - 130 x 97 x 4 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 1.6 inch

$1,780

Painting, Sans titre, Irina Dopont

Sans titre

Irina Dopont

Painting - 119 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 46.9 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

$949

Painting, Composition, Moise Cohen

Composition

Moise Cohen

Painting - 121 x 82 x 0.1 cm Painting - 47.6 x 32.3 x 0 inch

$2,313

Painting, Colors, Max Sherman

Colors

Max Sherman

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2.2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.9 inch

$2,729

Painting, Sans Tître 1, Robert Mus

Sans Tître 1

Robert Mus

Painting - 118 x 90 x 4 cm Painting - 46.5 x 35.4 x 1.6 inch

$2,726

Painting, The way home, Nina Grigel

The way home

Nina Grigel

Painting - 75 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 29.5 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$900

Painting, Abstraction, Gela Keidia

Abstraction

Gela Keidia

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$1,186

Painting, McBreakfast, Lana Devidze

McBreakfast

Lana Devidze

Painting - 29.3 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 11.5 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

$712

Painting, Natacha, David Kandelaki

Natacha

David Kandelaki

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

$308

Painting, Orange Grove, Ali Hasmut

Orange Grove

Ali Hasmut

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

$21,000

Painting, Blue sofa, Du Ke

Blue sofa

Du Ke

Painting - 80 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

$2,135

Painting, Verde 1, Nicolas Maray

Verde 1

Nicolas Maray

Painting - 130 x 195 x 3 cm Painting - 51.2 x 76.8 x 1.2 inch

$23,727

Painting, My your ocean, Kim Hye Ji

My your ocean

Kim Hye Ji

Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.7 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.3 inch

$6,764

Painting, Faces, Nazar Ivanyuk

Faces

Nazar Ivanyuk

Painting - 25 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$712

Painting, Fatigue, Xiang Shuai

Fatigue

Xiang Shuai

Painting - 60 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$2,135

Painting, Hypnosis, Nino Chichinadze

Hypnosis

Nino Chichinadze

Painting - 80 x 79 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.1 x 1 inch

$2,729

Painting, Untitled 72, Issa Halloum

Untitled 72

Issa Halloum

Painting - 50 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

$3,300

Painting, Evie, Alan Lemin

Evie

Alan Lemin

Painting - 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$2,373

Painting, Untitled, Kim En Joong

Untitled

Kim En Joong

Painting - 60 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$16,609

Painting, Printemps, Anton

Printemps

Anton

Painting - 73 x 92 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch

$830

Painting, Dante, Roger Dale

Dante

Roger Dale

Painting - 100 x 80 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 2 inch

$5,694

Painting, Sleepy, La Ba Quan

Sleepy

La Ba Quan

Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 inch

$1,800

Painting, Parallel I, Albena Petkova

Parallel I

Albena Petkova

Painting - 100 x 135 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 53.1 x 1.2 inch

$1,643

Painting, Flying, Nguyen Quang Huy

Flying

Nguyen Quang Huy

Painting - 101.6 x 101.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 inch

$4,800

11/100

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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

$1,246 $1,121

Painting, Orgasm, Dasha Pogodina

Orgasm

Dasha Pogodina

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

$2,752

Painting, Régate, Pierrick Tual

Régate

Pierrick Tual

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

$854

Painting, Pink arch, Procach Olesia

Pink arch

Procach Olesia

Painting - 45 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$730

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.