painting
painting
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "painting" is /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/.
pain-: /peɪn/
-ting: /tɪŋ/
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: painting
Plural: paintings
Verb (from "paint"):
Base form: paint
Third-person singular present: paints
Present participle: painting
Past tense: painted
Past participle: painted
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
An artistic creation made by applying paint to a surface, often a canvas or board, to depict a subject or express an idea.
Synonyms: artwork, picture, canvas, portrait, mural, masterpiece (if of high quality)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; "sculpture" or "drawing" are different art forms, not opposites)
The act or process of applying paint to a surface, whether for artistic, decorative, or protective purposes.
Synonyms: art, brushwork, depiction, portrayal, coating, finishing, decorating
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; "stripping" or "removing paint" describes the opposite action, not the process itself)
Verb (present participle of "to paint")
The action of applying paint to a surface.
Synonyms: decorating, illustrating, rendering, daubing, tinting, coating
Antonyms: stripping (paint), removing (paint)
Examples of Use
Books: "The delicate brushstrokes in the painting of the Venetian canal captured the shifting light of dawn perfectly." (From "Art History: A Critical Introduction" by Michael Hatt and Charlotte Klonk, 2006)
Newspapers: "A newly discovered painting by an unknown artist is set to go up for auction next month, fetching an estimated millions." (The Art Newspaper)
Online Publications: "How to choose the right colors for your interior painting project." (Better Homes & Gardens website)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the film "Mr. Bean's Holiday," Mr. Bean accidentally ruins a valuable painting at an art exhibition, leading to comical chaos. (Distributed by Universal Pictures, 2007)
Entertainment Platforms (Video Games): Players in the game "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" can collect and display various paintings in their virtual homes, some of which are forgeries. (Nintendo)
General Public Discourse: "My grandmother spent her retirement years painting landscapes and portraits as a hobby."
10 Quotes Using Painting
"Every good painting is a message." (Robert Henri)
"A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others to paint, to dream, to create, to live." (Attributed to Vincent van Gogh, though the exact phrasing with "paint" is debated, the sentiment is widely associated with him in discussions of art).
"I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream." (Vincent van Gogh)
"Painting is a blind man's profession. He paints not what he sees, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen." (Edgar Degas)
"A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art." (Paul Cézanne)
"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." (Pablo Picasso)
"I believe that painting is a spiritual exercise." (Hilma af Klint)
"My painting is a dream." (Frida Kahlo)
"What I want to express is the relationship between nature and myself; I am not interested in a literal transcription of the scene." (Georgia O'Keeffe)
"A painting that is well composed is half done." (Pierre Bonnard)
Etymology
The word "painting" as a noun (meaning the artwork or the act of creating it) has its roots in Middle English, appearing around 1225. It comes from the verb "paint" combined with the "-ing" suffix.
The word "paint" itself is older and comes from Old French "peintier," which then traces back to the Latin word "pingere." "Pingere" originally meant "to paint, to represent in a picture, to stain," and even "to embroider."
So, you can think of it like this:
"Pingere" (Latin): To mark or decorate, perhaps with cuts or colors.
"Peintier" (Old French): To apply color or make a picture.
"Paint" (English verb): To cover a surface with color, or to create an image with color.
"Painting" (English noun): The act of doing that, or the result of that act – the picture itself.
The very first meaning recorded for "painting" around 1225 was "painted matter" or "that which is painted," essentially referring to the finished artwork. Later, it also came to mean the "art of depicting by means of paint."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Painting
A fresh coat of painting: (Figurative) A new or updated appearance for something, often to make it seem better.
The painting is on the wall: (Idiom, though "writing is on the wall" is more common; this is a less common variation) An impending negative outcome is obvious.
Painting with a broad brush: (Idiom) To generalize widely, often overlooking specific details or nuances.
Painting oneself into a corner: (Idiom) To get into a difficult situation from which it is hard to escape.
Painting a vivid picture: (Phrase) Describing something in a very clear and detailed way, allowing others to easily imagine it.
More subtle than a clown's painting: (Original phrase) Extremely obvious or unsubtle.
Not worth the painting it's printed on: (Original phrase, similar to "not worth the paper it's printed on") Something is worthless.
Like a landscape painting: (Phrase) Describing something beautiful or picturesque, often a view.
Beyond the painting's frame: (Original phrase) Referring to something outside the immediate scope or perception.
A masterpiece of painting: (Phrase) An exceptionally good work of art created with paint.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of painting from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
