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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, The Road, Anna Korusiewicz

The Road

Anna Korusiewicz

Painting - 97 x 146 x 4 cm Painting - 38.2 x 57.5 x 1.6 inch

$11,905

Painting, Untitled, Evgeni Batoev

Untitled

Evgeni Batoev

Painting - 86 x 112 x 3 cm Painting - 33.9 x 44.1 x 1.2 inch

$1,191

Painting, Untitled, Shay Kun

Untitled

Shay Kun

Painting - 85 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 33.5 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

$13,500

Painting, My Stomach, Keziat

My Stomach

Keziat

Painting - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$833

Painting, Tu rougis, Nushka

Tu rougis

Nushka

Painting - 39 x 28 x 3 cm Painting - 15.4 x 11 x 1.2 inch

$2,381

Painting, Mountains, Denis Zabelin

Mountains

Denis Zabelin

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

$1,400 $1,190

Painting, Feeling, Doncho Zahariev

Feeling

Doncho Zahariev

Painting - 55 x 45 x 0.5 cm Painting - 21.7 x 17.7 x 0.2 inch

$655

Painting, Le Salagou, Joël Monnier

Le Salagou

Joël Monnier

Painting - 50 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 24 x 0.8 inch

$893

Painting, Travelers, Giorgi Melikidze

Travelers

Giorgi Melikidze

Painting - 40.1 x 40.3 x 2 cm Painting - 15.8 x 15.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,786

Painting, Sneaky Masks, Emil Aziz

Sneaky Masks

Emil Aziz

Painting - 90 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$5,953

Painting, 5 pm, Richard Szkutnik

5 pm

Richard Szkutnik

Painting - 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11 x 14 x 0.2 inch

$690

Painting, Trio, Henadzi Havartsou

Trio

Henadzi Havartsou

Painting - 70.1 x 100.1 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 39.4 x 1 inch

$670

Painting, Still Life, Santo Miano

Still Life

Santo Miano

Painting - 30 x 60 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

$952

Painting, Hug me, Liga Kempe

Hug me

Liga Kempe

Painting - 30 x 40 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

$1,012

Painting, Paisatge, Manuel Mayoral

Paisatge

Manuel Mayoral

Painting - 22 x 27 x 3 cm Painting - 8.7 x 10.6 x 1.2 inch

$655

Painting, Ballet class, Penyo Ivanov

Ballet class

Penyo Ivanov

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

$1,726

Painting, L'ouverture, FAG

L'ouverture

FAG

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

$1,905

Painting, Untitled, Albert Debois

Untitled

Albert Debois

Painting - 74 x 54 x 0.1 cm Painting - 29.1 x 21.3 x 0 inch

$893

Painting, XXX, Emils Braunbergs

XXX

Emils Braunbergs

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

$1,429

Painting, Tailwind, Angel Gerdjikov

Tailwind

Angel Gerdjikov

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

$1,488

Painting, Le Louvre, Pierre Allard

Le Louvre

Pierre Allard

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

$952

Painting, Sans titre, Pierre Saunier

Sans titre

Pierre Saunier

Painting - 131 x 101 x 3 cm Painting - 51.6 x 39.8 x 1.2 inch

$1,071

Painting, Naples, Alexandre Garbell

Naples

Alexandre Garbell

Painting - 42 x 22 x 0.5 cm Painting - 16.5 x 8.7 x 0.2 inch

$2,262

Painting, Estuary, Nicholas Kriefall

Estuary

Nicholas Kriefall

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

$5,000

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, Let's dance, Hanne Kjaer

Let's dance

Hanne Kjaer

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

$1,310

Painting, Le grain, Claude Vénard

Le grain

Claude Vénard

Painting - 81 x 130 x 3 cm Painting - 31.9 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch

$42,859

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Painting, Orgasm, Dasha Pogodina

Orgasm

Dasha Pogodina

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

$2,762

Painting, Yoff Tonghor, Ralph Resch

Yoff Tonghor

Ralph Resch

Painting - 130 x 97 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.8 inch

$1,536

Painting, Régate, Pierrick Tual

Régate

Pierrick Tual

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

$857

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

$732

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.