Contemporary Original Oil Painting
A contemporary original oil painting brings immediate colour and texture to a room, offering genuine hand-painted brushwork rather than a modern print.
Contemporary Original Oil Painting
A contemporary original oil painting encompasses fresh works executed in oil paint across British Impressionism, Contemporary Impressionism, Contemporary Realism, and Scottish Expressionism. These pieces emerge from the nineteen-fifties onward, capturing landscapes, townscapes, still life, and animal subjects.
Buyers frequently encounter works on canvas or board, often held within a wood frame or gesso moulding. The selection on this page demonstrates the diverse hands of makers working in this modern British tradition.
How they were made
Artists build a contemporary original oil painting using oil paint applied directly to stretched canvas or prepared board. This traditional medium allows for rich pigment build-up and visible brush marks.
Many works incorporate a wood frame, sometimes enhanced with gesso, to complete the presentation of the wall art.
The works featured here encompass paintings, wall art, and specific subjects like flamingos, hawthorn meadows, and red sails at Salcombe.
What varies in quality
The distinction in a contemporary original oil painting lies in the confidence of the brushwork and the clarity of the composition, whether depicting a landscape, sheep in wild garlic, or a still life of red berries. Stronger examples display a distinct handling of light and pigment.
Framing and support materials also contribute, as a well-chosen wood frame or a stable board and canvas base support the longevity and visual impact of the painted surface.
Lucy Pratt·Ian Parker·John Lowrie Morrison·David Orr Kerr·Peter Jackson
The Contemporary Original Oil Painting Glossary
- Canvas
- A heavy woven fabric stretched across a wooden frame to serve as a painting surface. It provides the traditional texture found in many modern works.
- Board
- A rigid flat panel used as a sturdy support for oil paint instead of stretched fabric. It offers a firm ground for detailed compositions.
- Gesso
- A plaster-like mixture applied to frames or boards to prepare a smooth surface for finishing. It is often moulded to create decorative frame details.
- Impressionism
- A style focusing on the visual impression of a moment, particularly through shifting light and unblended brush strokes. This approach captures lively movement in landscapes and scenes.
Contemporary Original Oil Painting: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a contemporary original oil painting?
It is a hand-painted artwork created using oil pigments on canvas or board during the mid-twentieth century or later. These pieces capture modern subjects through diverse styles including realism and impressionism.
Each work is a singular creation by an artist rather than a mechanical reproduction, showing distinct brushwork and texture.
How should I hang a framed oil painting?
Select a wall with stable humidity away from direct sunlight to protect both the oil paint and the wood frame. Ensure the hanging hardware matches the weight of the canvas and frame.
Position the artwork at eye level so the composition can be comfortably viewed from a standing position in the room.
Do these paintings require glass protection?
Traditional oil paintings on canvas or board are typically displayed without glass to allow the textured surface and brush strokes to remain fully visible. The oil paint cures into a durable layer that withstands open air.
Dust can be removed gently with a soft, dry brush when necessary, avoiding any liquid cleaners on the painted surface.
How do I identify the painting period?
Check the stretcher bars, canvas texture, framing materials, and any artist signatures or inscriptions on the reverse of the board. Mid-twentieth-century works often utilise specific board types and framing styles.
Comparing the stylistic approach, such as Scottish Expressionism or contemporary realism, also helps place the work in its historical context.