types of painting styles

 Painting is one of the most venerated forms of art, and one of the oldest. Since humanity’s first steps on this planet we have painted, ancient cave paintings show our desire to express ourselves even in our earliest days.

The modern day is no different, painting is at the very core of how humans express their hopes, dreams, fears, and emotions. With time has come a slew of different styles, mediums, and subjects that have seen the art of painting diversify and evolve. Today, painting is as highly regarded as ever, with many different schools and techniques producing art in wildly differing ways.

If you’re setting foot in the art world for the first time or are planning on picking up a paintbrush yourself, we present our guide to the most popular and common types of painting art styles, mediums and subjects.

TYPES OF PAINTING STYLES

There is a huge range of different styles that are incorporated into art, with some having subtle differences between them to bold, striking changes that are easy to spot. These are some of the most popular types of painting art styles you’ll see in the modern day.

Realism

Realism is a painting art style that aims to give the viewer a reflection of the real world. Many of the most famous paintings are painted in this style and for many, paintings made in this style are what they will think of when they think of ‘art’. It is important, however, to make the distinction between realism and photorealism – the former concerns itself with a realistic scene but does not aim to be a true depiction.

Expressionism

At the other end of the spectrum is expressionism. Expressionism is a style of art that doesn’t concern itself with realism, images and scenes are often distorted or painted with otherworldly, vivid colours that don’t match up with reality. 

Abstract

Abstract paintings eschew realism altogether. Whatever the subject in the painting, it may not be accurately represented at all in the artwork. Objects may be represented by a colour or a shape instead, with the interpretation left up to the viewer. The impact of an abstract painting cannot be understated, with many using shocking displays of colour and form to dizzy the senses.

Surrealism

Surrealism first became a movement in the 20th century, with artists such as Salvador Dali becoming household names. Combining abstract concepts with semi-realistic objects that have been twisted or morphed into something unusual, they can be illogical or dreamlike, giving the viewer a heightened sense of reality.

Pop Art

In the 1950s and onwards, pop art became a movement that drew inspiration from the commodification and commercialism of modern life. Using cartoons or adverts in many of the style’s most famous works, pop art uses realistic imagery combined with bold colours to highlight the artist’s intent.The focus is instead on the artist’s ideas or feelings, which are expressed through the medium of art.