Painting
The first paintings, found in Spain, have been dated at 65,000 years old, suggesting they were created by Neanderthals. This shows that painting is one of the oldest art forms that exists.
Technically, a painting is a two-dimensional art form which is made up of layers of pigments applied onto a surface. The surface on which the pigment is applied varies from stone (used in the Paleolithic Age) to paper, wood, cloth and canvas.
As the surface of paintings differ, so do the materials used to create the pigments. During the Paleolithic Age coloured earths were used, followed by plant extracts and more recently synthetic colours.
There are many types of paintings, but amongst the well-known are oil, acrylic, pastel, spray paintings and watercolours.
Painting can play a key role within a collection it still holds that strength. The actual material of paint has something alchemical about it.
Maureen Pale – Director at Maureen Paley, London
Owning Art: The Contemporary Art Collector’s Handbook by Louisa Buck and Judith Greer, Cultureshock Media, 2006
Looking for galleries who stock this artform?
Why not explore our member galleries
The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art, Crown Lane, Conwy, CONWY, LL32 8AN
The Arts Shop & Chapel, No 8 Cross Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5EH
Plas Glyn y Weddw Gallery, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 7TT
Harbour Lights Gallery, Porthgain, HAVERFORDWEST, Pembrokeshire, SA62 5BL
Canfas Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, Grovesnor Hill, Cardigan, Ceredigion, SA43 1HY
Oriel Glasfryn Gallery, South Street, Caerwys, Mold, Caerwys, Flintshire, CH7 5AF
Shetland Museum & Archives, Hays Dock, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0WP
South Gate Gallery & Specialist Picture Framers, 64 South Street, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1EE
National Trust, Cotehele House, Cotehele, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6TA
Milton Art Gallery, Milton of Crathes, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, AB31 5QH
Liberation Art Gallery, 38 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, East Sussex, BN11HB
The Rutland Gallery, 27 High Street East, Uppingham, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 9PY
Southwark Park Galleries, 1 Park Approach, Southwark Park, London, London, SE16 2UA
Danby Lodge National Park Centre, Lodge Lane, Danby, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 2NB
Laura I.Gallery, Icehouse Court, Abbey Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 7BT
Railway Cottage, Behind Bass Warehouse, Off Castle Street, Manchester, M3 4LZ
Unit 3C, Mardleybury Farm, Mardleybury Road, Datchworth, Hertfordshire, SG36SG
Tamarisk Gallery, The Parade, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, TR21 0LP
Colley Ison Gallery, 85-89 Colmore Row, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 2BB
Art of Protest Gallery, 11 Walmgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9TX
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4LG
The Ropewalk, Maltkiln Road, Barton upon Humber, North Lincolnshire, DN18 5LT
24 Church Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3EG
St Anne's Court, 59 North Street, BT1 1NB, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 1NB
The Paragon Gallery, 4 Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1SW
Hang-Up Pictures Ltd, 10D Branch Place, Regents Canal, Hoxton, London, N1 5PH
Outside In, PO Box 810,, Chichester,, PO19 9WF, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 9WF
83-85 Town Street, Sandsgate Building, Farsley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS28 5UJ
The Customs House Gallery, Commercial Road, Porthleven, Cornwall, TR13 9JD
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL
45 Eldon Garden Shopping Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 7RA
Royal West of England Academy, Queens Road, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1PX
Gallery Q Dundee, Queens Hotel Buildings, 160 Nethergate, Dundee, Angus, DD1 4DU
30 Gray Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Broughty Ferry Dundee, Angus, DD5 2BJ
Art Forms
Why not see what other great art forms there are for you to discover?