oil painting

noun

1

a

: the act or art of painting in oil colors

b

: a picture painted in oils

2

: painting that uses pigments originally ground in oil

Synonyms of oil painting

• painting
• canvas

Examples of oil painting in a Sentence

He studied oil painting in college.

A large oil painting hangs above the mantel.

Recent Examples on the Web

Presley’s oil painting draws inspiration from the Italian Renaissance painting The Annunciation by Domenico di Pace Beccafumi. — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2026

Bulgari bathroom amenities, and hi-tech touches do not detract from the old-world charm of the warm wood paneling, soft silk wallpaper, and original oil paintings found throughout the hotel. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

Displaying oil paintings, watercolors, studies, and multiple proofs alongside the full corpus of his etchings, the PMA show allows the viewer to discover the process of etching alongside Homer. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 31 July 2026

The last day on Earth depicted through living oil paintings animated by dense, textured brushstrokes in motion, exploring human emotion. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for oil painting

• acquainting
• repainting
• fainting
• tainting

Kids Definition

oil painting

noun

: a painting done with oil paints