Oil Painting on Canvas

 

Welcome to Oil Painting on Canvas!  As the title of our site suggests, we are dedicated here to talking about, learning about and discovering new techniques when it comes to the world of oil painting on canvas.  Oil Painting on Canvas is one of the oldest, most respected art forms around even to this and is certainly one of the most popular mediums for artists.  If you are new to this medium of art then let us show you around a little bit, discuss some of the important works in this technique and hopefully you will learn enough to get started yourself!

 

What is oil painting on canvas?

Oil painting on canvas is the process of painting with colors that are made with drying oil and in early Europe, linseed oil. Depending on the oil type used and the medium (canvas) the drying times can vary greatly between the different types.  By using oil based paints a certain look, body and feel becomes apparent to the artwork leaving a very specialized piece.   Nowadays most oil based paints are made using the venerable flax seed with is the main source of linseed oil.  After waiting up to one year for the paint to dry an artist will typically seal his oil painting on canvas using a varnish to protect the work.

 

History of oil painting on canvas

Oil painting essentially migrated from Afghanistan to the West sometime between the 5th and 9th century but was not widely popular until around the 15th century, particularly becoming mainstream in Europe and northern Europe to be specific.  Such famous paintings as Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci), The Cliffs at Etretat (Claude Monet), Napoleon Crossing through the St. Bernard Pass (Jacques-Louis David), Pilgrimage to Cythera (Jean-Antoine Watteau)  and others highlight the popularity of early European artists to use oil painting on canvas.