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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, Sunrise, Ribal Molaeb

Sunrise

Ribal Molaeb

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

£8,439

Painting, Sans titre, Arkane

Sans titre

Arkane

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

£962

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

£1,574

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

£2,419

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

£2,073

Painting, Sans titre, Mattevski

Sans titre

Mattevski

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

£1,574

Painting, Berries, Vitaly Duhnevich

Berries

Vitaly Duhnevich

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

£201

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

£2,799

Painting, Le souffle, André Teleki

Le souffle

André Teleki

Painting - 33 x 24 x 1 cm Painting - 13 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

£962

Painting, Saturn's Story, Saula Mile

Saturn's Story

Saula Mile

Painting - 111.8 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm Painting - 44 x 48 x 1.5 inch

£5,298

Painting, Kaduna boy, Simeon Nwoko

Kaduna boy

Simeon Nwoko

Painting - 104.1 x 72.4 x 2.5 cm Painting - 41 x 28.5 x 1 inch

£1,689

Painting, Dios, Brandon Tellez

Dios

Brandon Tellez

Painting - 182.88 x 152.4 x 1.5 cm Painting - 72 x 60 x 0.6 inch

£7,679

Painting, Solitude, Alfredo Vannotti

Solitude

Alfredo Vannotti

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

£1,170

Painting, Winter, Dostena Lavergne

Winter

Dostena Lavergne

Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

£1,356

Painting, Palmiers, Omar Logang

Palmiers

Omar Logang

Painting - 73 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 28.7 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

£1,749

Painting, Cosmos, François Barroux

Cosmos

François Barroux

Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

£2,361

Painting, HM 12, Hanan Milner

HM 12

Hanan Milner

Painting - 85 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 33.5 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

£1,872

Painting, Amy, Zeljko Masic

Amy

Zeljko Masic

Painting - 40 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

£1,924

Painting, Florence, Ricardo Tena

Florence

Ricardo Tena

Painting - 150 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 59.1 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch

£6,349

Painting, Allegory 5, Ouisam Melhem

Allegory 5

Ouisam Melhem

Painting - 120 x 95 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 37.4 x 0.8 inch

£3,763

Painting, Libération, M. Thomas

Libération

M. Thomas

Painting - 45.5 x 36 x 1.5 cm Painting - 17.9 x 14.2 x 0.6 inch

£805

Painting, Gold lips, Agusil

Gold lips

Agusil

Painting - 150 x 150 x 4 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 1.6 inch

£4,198

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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

£918

Painting, Orgasm, Dasha Pogodina

Orgasm

Dasha Pogodina

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

£2,029

Painting, Régate, Pierrick Tual

Régate

Pierrick Tual

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

£630

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.