Activities Hobbies Art Glossary: Painting Share PINTEREST Email Print Self-Portrait with Easel Painting by Vincent van Gogh. Photo © Oli Scarff/Getty Images Hobbies Fine Arts & Crafts Painting Drawing & Sketching Arts & Crafts Contests Couponing Freebies Frugal Living Astrology Card Games & Gambling Cars & Motorcycles Playing Music Learn More By Marion Boddy-Evans Marion Boddy-Evans Marion Boddy-Evans is an artist living on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. She has written for art magazines blogs, edited how-to art titles, and co-authored travel books. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 03/06/17 Definition: A painting is an image (artwork) created using pigments (color) on a surface (ground) such as paper or canvas. The pigment may be in a wet form, such as paint, or a dry form, such as pastels. Painting can also be a verb, the action of creating such an artwork. Featured Video