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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, Beach day, Ivo Petrov

Beach day

Ivo Petrov

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

$1,131

Painting, Sea Scars, Claire Wiltsher

Sea Scars

Claire Wiltsher

Painting - 50 x 70 x 3.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 x 1.4 inch

$1,405

Painting, People, Ablade Glover

People

Ablade Glover

Painting - 121.9 x 152.4 x 10.2 cm Painting - 48 x 60 x 4 inch

$35,000

Painting, Anti Forms, Brad Waters

Anti Forms

Brad Waters

Painting - 184 x 120 x 5 cm Painting - 72.4 x 47.2 x 2 inch

$2,542

Painting, Chameleon, Craig Moran

Chameleon

Craig Moran

Painting - 35.6 x 45.7 x 2.5 cm Painting - 14 x 18 x 1 inch

$1,070

Painting, Incoming Call, Wang Dianyu

Incoming Call

Wang Dianyu

Painting - 70 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,786

Painting, L'automne, Marcel Demagny

L'automne

Marcel Demagny

Painting - 40 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$1,964

Painting, China Asters, Alla Vitta

China Asters

Alla Vitta

Painting - 36 x 27 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,929

Painting, Landscape, Anahit Erkoyan

Landscape

Anahit Erkoyan

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

$1,191

Painting, Air, Jean Marie Drouet

Air

Jean Marie Drouet

Painting - 80 x 120 x 5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 2 inch

$6,310

Painting, Lady with a hat, MKate

Lady with a hat

MKate

Painting - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$650

Painting, Glow 1, Mayowa Esan

Glow 1

Mayowa Esan

Painting - 119.9 x 100.1 x 2.5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 39.4 x 1 inch

$3,500

Painting, Couple, Ezequiel Solano

Couple

Ezequiel Solano

Painting - 120 x 120 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 inch

$1,191

Painting, Birds, Sjöfn Kolbeins

Birds

Sjöfn Kolbeins

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

$1,488

Painting, John, Tanner Rhines

John

Tanner Rhines

Painting - 43.18 x 55.88 cm Painting - 17 x 22 inch

$2,381

Painting, Bunmi, Meshach Charity

Bunmi

Meshach Charity

Painting - 86.4 x 76.2 x 2.5 cm Painting - 34 x 30 x 1 inch

$1,750

Painting, Bretagne, Georges Laporte

Bretagne

Georges Laporte

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

$1,369

Painting, Venus, Françoise Danel

Venus

Françoise Danel

Painting - 120 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,786

Painting, Le coq, Julien Cuny

Le coq

Julien Cuny

Painting - 105 x 75 cm Painting - 41.3 x 29.5 inch

$714

Painting, Bianca, Emilio López

Bianca

Emilio López

Painting - 55 x 48 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.9 x 0.8 inch

$952

Painting, El olivo, Sara Manglano

El olivo

Sara Manglano

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$952

Painting, Sans titre 4, Scalarudgia

Sans titre 4

Scalarudgia

Painting - 60 x 60 x 1.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.6 inch

$952

Painting, Sun's Out, Carrie Graber

Sun's Out

Carrie Graber

Painting - 91.4 x 68.6 x 3.2 cm Painting - 36 x 27 x 1.25 inch

$8,770

Painting, Abstract, Moshe Leider

Abstract

Moshe Leider

Painting - 61 x 77 x 2.5 cm Painting - 24 x 30.3 x 1 inch

$1,800

Painting, Félicité, Irene Mahon

Félicité

Irene Mahon

Painting - 61 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting - 24 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

$964

Painting, Phase, Aykaz Arzumanyan

Phase

Aykaz Arzumanyan

Painting - 100 x 81 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 1.6 inch

$1,786

Painting, Lilac, Peter Tovpev

Lilac

Peter Tovpev

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

$292

Painting, Bird, Stavri Kalinov

Bird

Stavri Kalinov

Painting - 125 x 125 x 3 cm Painting - 49.2 x 49.2 x 1.2 inch

$11,310

Painting, Dance, Andriy Klishyn

Dance

Andriy Klishyn

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

$595

Painting, La mère et l'enfant, Kej

La mère et l'enfant

Kej

Painting - 61 x 50 x 5 cm Painting - 24 x 19.7 x 2 inch

$1,191

Painting, Tangerines, Yehor Dulin

Tangerines

Yehor Dulin

Painting - 35 x 35 x 1.8 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch

$900

Painting, Montañas, Charo Velasco

Montañas

Charo Velasco

Painting - 70 x 90 x 5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 35.4 x 2 inch

$893

Painting, Lake, Beatriz Oggero

Lake

Beatriz Oggero

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

$1,191

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Discover the selection of our experts

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, 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.