
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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L'Albero del bene e del male
Mark Fontaine
Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€600







N° 1069 Congratulations 4
R. Cavalié
Painting - 50 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch
€500










Vue sur les toits (Vue 6)
Marie France Garrigues
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€650

Control Attempt #13. Tenderness
Dasha Buben
Painting - 100 x 80 x 1.8 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.7 inch
€1,000

Control Attempt #20. Personal Black Hole
Dasha Buben
Painting - 140 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 55.1 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
€2,000




Orient magique (Les lampes d'Aladdin - 1001 nuits)
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 40 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
€1,250 €1,188


Le chant de la sirène
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 40 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
€1,250 €1,188

Reflections Of A Teenage Girl
Joyce Fournier
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 1 inch
€620

Les yeux dans les yeux
Zafi
Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
€5,900 €5,310

Viaduc de la siagne
Louis Devienne
Painting - 64 x 48 x 2 cm Painting - 25.2 x 18.9 x 0.8 inch
€2,300

Chemin de la pointe de l'aiguille
Louis Devienne
Painting - 69 x 34 x 2 cm Painting - 27.2 x 13.4 x 0.8 inch
€1,750





La collectionneuse au fauteuil bleu
Zafi
Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
€8,000





Bleu Orange et Citron
Pierrick Tual
Painting - 70 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch
€2,400









Tree acres of happiness
Milcheva Emilia
Painting - 70 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
€1,000

Evening Venice
Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska
Painting - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
€2,552 €1,786

Night in Venice
Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska
Painting - 50.8 x 40.64 x 0.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch
€820 €574

Night in blue
Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska
Painting - 50.8 x 40.64 x 0.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch
€820 €574

Full moon time
Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska
Painting - 50.8 x 40.64 x 0.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch
€820 €574


Le lapin blanc
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€999 €950

Last dance
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 80 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
€1,699 €1,615

Le temps qui passe...
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 80 x 40 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
€1,650 €1,568

Douce mélodie
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€1,250 €1,188












The house of the cat
Stanislav Lazarov
Painting - 50 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
€1,400




Philibert - Quand je serai grand je serai pilote
Christine Barrès
Painting - 20 x 20 x 0.3 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch
€230

Le temps des merveilles
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 80 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
€1,750

La Grande Dame (Vue 7, vue du Champs de Mars)
Marie France Garrigues
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
€350

Where Are You From
Ilia Balavadze
Painting - 70 x 70 x 3 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch
€2,000

Petits miracles nous entourent
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 55 x 46 x 3.5 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 1.4 inch
€1,050

1992 Elle Ses hanches Her hips
Bernard Di Sciullo
Painting - 46 x 33 x 0.5 cm Painting - 18.1 x 13 x 0.2 inch
€1,250

Abstract Grey Zone n°429
Harry James Moody
Painting - 55.9 x 71.1 x 5.1 cm Painting - 22 x 28 x 2 inch
€2,461

Abstract Grey Zone n°430
Harry James Moody
Painting - 55.9 x 71.1 x 5.1 cm Painting - 22 x 28 x 2 inch
€2,461

Abstract Grey Zone n°431
Harry James Moody
Painting - 55.9 x 71.1 x 5.1 cm Painting - 22 x 28 x 2 inch
€2,461

Abstract Grey Zone n°432
Harry James Moody
Painting - 55.9 x 71.1 x 5.1 cm Painting - 22 x 28 x 2 inch
€2,461

1970 Abstraction MOON SHIN MMCA Museum Modern Contemporary Art Seoul
Moon Shin
Painting - 29.5 x 23 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.6 x 9.1 x 0.2 inch
€3,500
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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.
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.
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.