oil painting

noun

1. the art or technique of painting with oil colors.

2. a painting executed in oil colors.

oil painting

noun

1. a picture painted with oil paints

2. the art or process of painting with oil paints

3. informal,  he is not good-looking

Other Word Forms

• oil painter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oil painting¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

He told me to take up hobbies to distract myself, as he had done—hunting, oil painting, and so on.

Read more on Literature

The oil painting's floral elements, which later became one of Klimt's characteristic traits, show "a key phase in the evolution of his artistic language", Weidinger said.

Read more on Barron's

Why can’t we design something that actually helps humans do things quickly, so I could practice piano or oil paintings that makes me happy, or hang out with friends and family?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In the oil painting, a young woman in a red dress sits on the edge of a motel bed, gripping the footboard tensely.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Three previously unknown oil paintings attributed to avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich are on show at a public museum in Bucharest.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• art 
• canvas 
• composition 
• depiction 
• landscape 
• mural 
• picture 
• portrait 
• sketch