Oil painting is one of the most challenging yet beautifully gratifying forms of art. The beautiful thing about it is that no two pieces ever look the same, and everyone has their idea of what is considered pleasing.
Florentine school, 15th century. Source: dorotheum.com
Oil painting dates back to the fifth century A.D. The earliest discovery of its usage goes back to the Bamian Valley of Afghanistan, where Chinese & Indian artists created hundreds of paintings in the caves there.
For centuries, this incredible artistic practice did not gain popularity or achieve widespread prominence until the fifteenth century, when it arrived in Northern Europe.
The traditional process of creating oil paintings involved mixing pigments with plant oils like linseed oil, poppy oil, or safflower oil.
However, artists today use water miscible oil paint to allow for a faster drying time (usually between one to three days).
What makes oil paint art so fascinating is the brightness and richness of its colours. The fact that its adaptable to an artist’s visions and requirements is captivating. This artist, Botto is worth taking a look at.
For instance, oil painting allows an artist to build up the surface from toned underpainting to the final finish glazes.
An oil painting’s translucence, sheen, and thickness can all be adjusted as well with waxes, resins, and varnishes.
Another thing is that Oil paint dries slowly, can be mixed on canvas, diluted to transparency, or given texture. This flexibility has made it a favourite medium for artists for centuries.
How Oil paint is made
Artists’ oil colours are formed by mixing dry powder pigments with selected refined linseed oil. The primary reason artists prefer linseed oil is that it dries by oxidation – meaning, the oil chemically reacts with oxygen to become solid.
What you need to know before buying Oil paintings
The popularity of oil paintings has become widespread throughout the centuries, and now they have found their place in the modern world. Oil paintings have become sought after for house decoration and many other spaces.
With more oil painting flooding the market every day, making a choice may not be easy. However, you should not be worried. Read on for a handful of tips to get you started on your choice of oil paintings.
Space
First, you need to find and decide on a suitable space where your painting should be; living room, bedroom, kitchen, etc., all give context to the colour, size, and shape of the oil painting that needs to be there.
When purchasing, look for recommendations in the painting’s description about hints on the area the painting is best suited.
Colours and Design
The design and general colours of the oil painting you choose should march the decor of your house or chosen space.
It’s wise to consider the colours of your walls, furniture, lights/lamps, and so on, and then decide what you can add to compliment the area. For example, warm decor(light colours) is best flattered with cool coloured paintings: blues, greens, etc.
Room design is also another thing to consider. If you are a minimalist, you would want to buy a simple painting with simple shapes and colours, design all that.
Size and Shape
This aspect is important both ways. The size and shape of your space matter as much as the size and shape of the oil painting you are buying. Many paintings are horizontal, vertical, square, and custom shapes designed based on a person’s preference.
Generally, vertical-shaped paintings work better for small spaces without making them look so cramped. Horizontal paintings are much better in larger and spacious rooms.
Canvas
Canvas is the fabric used as a support surface for a painting. The two most common canvases used for oil painting are cotton and linen.
Cotton fabrics are affordable and easy to stretch, but they don’t support large painting. Durability is not guaranteed, while linen fabrics, on the other hand, are solid and durable.
Unlike cotton fibre, they are less prone to contraction and expansion due to moisture, and they are pretty expensive.
Theme
When buying a painting, you will find a wide selection of subjects available. Landscape, cartoon, 3D effects, etc., are options you can choose from.
Your choice should be to your liking. Depending on where it should be, the painting should reflect the general feelings of the theme.
For example, you can choose to decorate your kitchen with a bright, beautiful picture of fruits or flowers.
To frame or not to frame
If your oil painting comes with an already fitted frame, then it is all ready for hanging.
If it doesn’t, it’s up to you to make or buy a stretcher that will stretch all four corners and then display the painting. Make sure you read the painting’s specifications before making a purchase.
Note: Oil paintings vary in quality based on the type of paint used. Where you can, make yourself knowledgeable about how you can distinguish each oil painting.
There are three types of oil paint used: student, artist, and professional grade. The easiest way to know is by looking at the pigment quality.
OIL PAINTING LANDSCAPE
KAY HARE ART
Kay Hare Art is an Art gallery that offers a wide range of oil paintings. All paintings are backed on museum-quality linen, and the frames are professionally made.
Kay sometimes paints in oil linen incorporated with 10c natural gemstone diamonds and 1ok gold leaf. Oil paintings on sale include Adventure, April, sailing under stars, Ylang Ylang White angelica, and so much more.
All Kay Hare oil paintings, NFT’s/Bitcoin drawings, pen and ink drawings are available to buy online through the British pound or Bitcoin.
ARTFINDER
Artfinder is an art marketplace that believes in building a world where artists can make a living doing what they love. It is a place where anyone can easily find and buy original art, no matter their taste or budget, including oil paintings.
Every piece sold is an original signed by the artist, carrying its own unique story to home. Their collection includes oil paintings with landscapes, abstracts, people & portraits, flowers & plants, still life, and many more subjects.
ANTIQUE OIL PAINTS
Sellingantiques brings together antique dealers and customers onto a single platform. It is great for customers as it enables them to search from over 600 antique dealers.
There are over 70,323 items from the inventories in one place. For all antique piece lovers, this is the right place for you.
This list is only a sample of the many online art galleries that have sprung all over the internet. Websites are readily availing oil paintings to you, some of the dealers delivering right to your doorstep.
Art lovers are taking advantage of this measure, as they do not have to walk into a gallery.
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In these modern times, oil painting is the most stylish choice preferred by artists worldwide. Oil paintings are believed to develop a high status for the homeowners of those who buy them.
Some owners buy oil paintings based on their tastes and preference. There’s no doubt that oil paintings are admired as a symbol of beauty worldwide.
AUTHOR BIO
Nanyanzi Prudence Joan is a content writer, creator, and musician. She considers herself a multi-potentialite. She is work for Pearl lemon leads. Well, she has her head in almost everything.