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, Rising I, Matteo Nannini

Rising I

Matteo Nannini

Painting - 35 x 90 x 4 cm Painting - 13.8 x 35.4 x 1.6 inch

€2,200

Painting, Home, Uy Nguyen

Home

Uy Nguyen

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

€1,900

Painting, Magic, Howard Brotman

Magic

Howard Brotman

Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 2 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.8 inch

€2,852

Painting, Butterfly, Liva Pakalne

Butterfly

Liva Pakalne

Painting - 40 x 40 x 8 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 3.1 inch

€1,900

Painting, Wanker, Dylan Cram

Wanker

Dylan Cram

Painting - 61 x 46 x 4 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 1.6 inch

€1,620

Painting, Rosalia, Els Knockaert

Rosalia

Els Knockaert

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€870

Painting, Slapshot, Ferenc Flamm

Slapshot

Ferenc Flamm

Painting - 88.9 x 94 x 3.8 cm Painting - 35 x 37 x 1.5 inch

€1,484

Painting, Night, Olena Shtepura

Night

Olena Shtepura

Painting - 90 x 90 x 2.5 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 1 inch

€2,500

Painting, Composition, Oscar Gauthier

Composition

Oscar Gauthier

Painting - 58 x 48 x 0.5 cm Painting - 22.8 x 18.9 x 0.2 inch

€12,000

Painting, Morning, Enver Hoxhaj

Morning

Enver Hoxhaj

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

€1,500

Painting, Lilies, Ieva Liepina

Lilies

Ieva Liepina

Painting - 70 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,100

Painting, Energy, Tanya Grievech

Energy

Tanya Grievech

Painting - 120 x 128 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 50.4 x 0.8 inch

€5,000

Painting, Questions, Dalva Duarte

Questions

Dalva Duarte

Painting - 51 x 34 cm Painting - 20.1 x 13.4 inch

€500

Painting, Poolside, John Popkess

Poolside

John Popkess

Painting - 50 x 39.9 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€2,204

Painting, Retrato, Joana Frontera

Retrato

Joana Frontera

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

€750

Painting, Salma, Michelle  Fages

Salma

Michelle Fages

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

€1,200

Painting, Les Fauves, Karine Secret

Les Fauves

Karine Secret

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

€2,250

Painting, Summernights, Karl Gietl

Summernights

Karl Gietl

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

€1,200

Painting, Wavy Horizons, Saula Mile

Wavy Horizons

Saula Mile

Painting - 94 x 91.4 x 3.8 cm Painting - 37 x 36 x 1.5 inch

€4,266

Painting, Dreams, Agudo Clará

Dreams

Agudo Clará

Painting - 89 x 122 x 2 cm Painting - 35 x 48 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Seduce, Xiaodong Liu

Seduce

Xiaodong Liu

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 1 inch

€7,500

Painting, Connected, Chika Idu

Connected

Chika Idu

Painting - 137.2 x 119.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 54 x 47 x 2 inch

€8,347

Painting, Bower, Sarah Medway

Bower

Sarah Medway

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€1,239

Painting, Self Care V, Alai Ganuza

Self Care V

Alai Ganuza

Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,500

Painting, Ally, Ibitoye Emmanuel

Ally

Ibitoye Emmanuel

Painting - 89.9 x 119.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 35.4 x 47.2 x 1 inch

€2,272

Painting, Moonlight, ViBond

Moonlight

ViBond

Painting - 40 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€750

Painting, Thinker, Yaojun Xue

Thinker

Yaojun Xue

Painting - 100 x 80 x 3.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.4 inch

€2,000

Painting, Regal, Ibrahim Omiyera

Regal

Ibrahim Omiyera

Painting - 100.1 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1 inch

€2,087

Painting, Sub-Low, Eric Moore

Sub-Low

Eric Moore

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

€1,669

Painting, Dulcé, Marcos Rodrigo

Dulcé

Marcos Rodrigo

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

€1,900

Painting, Untitled, Melchor Zapata

Untitled

Melchor Zapata

Painting - 54 x 73 cm Painting - 21.3 x 28.7 inch

€4,800

Painting, Downtown 1, Sckaro

Downtown 1

Sckaro

Painting - 60 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€4,400

Painting, Pescadora, Giner Bueno

Pescadora

Giner Bueno

Painting - 19 x 25 x 3 cm Painting - 7.5 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

€950

Painting, Dawn of Dokdo, Ahn Sung Kyu

Dawn of Dokdo

Ahn Sung Kyu

Painting - 45.5 x 53 x 3 cm Painting - 17.9 x 20.9 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

22/100
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.