painterly

adjective

paint·​er·​ly ˈpān-tər-lē 

1

: of, relating to, or typical of a painter : artistic

painterly attention to detail

2

: suggestive or characteristic of a painting or of the art of painting

painterly photography

especially : marked by an openness of form which is not linear and in which sharp outlines are lacking

painterly brushwork

painterliness noun

Examples of painterly in a Sentence

He has a painterly eye.

a painterly picture of the sea

Recent Examples on the Web

The ball is painterly and lit by candlelight, so the dresses were designed to work in that light. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026

Red Beach at the southernmost point of Santorini is a must-visit for its painterly canvas. — Jennifer Tzeses, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026

Imagineer Jason Grandt says the area was heavily inspired by Rocky Mountain National Park as well as the painterly vistas of plein air artists and the murals of Thomas Hart Benton. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Botanical prints on olive green bases brought a tropic vibe to camo, while lush leafy prints created a painterly effect to tops. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1