Painting art can be broadly categorized into several major categories, each with its own unique characteristics and sub-categories. These categories include portrait painting, landscape painting, seascape painting, still life painting, abstract painting, figure painting, animal painting, cityscape painting, fantasy painting, narrative painting, genre painting, mythological painting, historical painting, religious painting, political painting, science fiction painting, surreal painting, pop painting, environmental painting, and conceptual painting.
Portrait painting, as the name suggests, focuses on depicting the likeness of a person or group of people, and can be further sub-categorized into traditional portraiture, photographic portraiture, and conceptual portraiture. Landscape painting, on the other hand, depicts natural scenes such as mountains, valleys, forests, and seascapes. Seascape painting, as the name implies, is a subcategory of landscape painting that focuses on the sea and coastal areas. Still life painting, as the name implies, depicts inanimate objects such as fruits, flowers, and vases.
Abstract painting, as the name suggests, is a form of non-representational art that does not depict any recognizable objects or figures. Figure painting, as the name implies, depicts the human form, and can be further sub-categorized into figurative and non-figurative art. Animal painting, as the name implies, depicts animals in their natural habitats or in captivity.
Cityscape painting, as the name implies, is a subcategory of landscape painting that focuses on the urban environment. Fantasy painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or characters from fantasy or mythology. Narrative painting, as the name implies, tells a story through the use of visual imagery. Genre painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes from everyday life. Mythological painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or characters from mythology or legend.
Historical painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or events from history. Religious painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or characters from religion. Political painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or events related to politics. Science fiction painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or characters from science fiction. Surreal painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or characters that are surreal or fantastical.
Pop painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or characters that are popular in culture. Environmental painting, as the name implies, depicts scenes or events related to the environment. Conceptual painting, as the name implies, is a form of non-representational art that is based on concepts or ideas rather than physical objects or figures.
Each of these categories and sub-categories have their own unique characteristics and techniques. Understanding these different categories and sub-categories can help artists to develop their own unique style and to better understand the art of painting.
- Portrait – depicting a person or people in a realistic or stylized manner
- Portrait Painting: A painting that depicts the likeness of a person, usually showing the face and upper body.
- Group Portrait: A painting that depicts multiple people, usually in a formal setting.
- Family Portrait: A painting that depicts a family, usually in a domestic setting.
- Self-Portrait: A painting that depicts the artist themselves.
- Pet Portrait: A painting that depicts a pet, usually a domesticated animal such as a dog or cat.
- Military Portrait: A painting that depicts a military figure, usually in uniform.
- Historical Portrait: A painting that depicts a historical figure, such as a ruler or important figure from the past.
- Celebrity Portrait: A painting that depicts a famous person, such as an actor or musician.
- Fantasy Portrait: A painting that depicts a person in a fantasy or imaginary setting.
- Caricature Portrait: A painting that exaggerates the features of a person for comedic effect.
- Political Portrait: A painting that depicts a political figure, such as a president or prime minister.
- Religious Portrait: A painting that depicts a religious figure, such as a saint or pope.
- Corporate Portrait: A painting that depicts a corporate figure, such as a CEO or business leader.
- Royal Portrait: A painting that depicts a member of a royal family.
- Psychological Portrait: A painting that aims to reveal the inner emotions or psychology of the subject.
- Pop Art Portrait: A portrait that incorporates elements of Pop Art, often using bright colors and bold lines.
- Digital Portrait: A portrait that is created using digital tools and technology.
- Photorealistic Portrait: A Portrait that is created to look exactly like a photograph, this type of portrait is also called Hyperrealistic, it’s created with high level of realism and attention to detail, often achieved by using advanced techniques such as airbrushing and digital manipulation. The goal is to create an image that is almost indistinguishable from a photograph.
- Surreal portrait: A portrait that features elements of the surrealist art movement, which often includes dreamlike or fantastical imagery, and often includes elements that appear illogical or impossible in reality.
- Hyperrealistic portrait: A portrait that is highly detailed and realistic, often achieved through the use of advanced techniques such as digital art or airbrush art.
- Fantasy portrait: A portrait that features elements of fantasy art, which often includes magical or otherworldly elements, and may depict the subject in a fantastical setting or with supernatural features.
- Landscape – depicting natural or man-made environments
- Natural landscape painting: This type of landscape painting depicts natural scenery such as mountains, forests, valleys, and rivers in a realistic manner.
- Cityscape painting: This type of landscape painting depicts urban environments such as cities, towns, and streets in a representational or impressionistic style.
- Seascape painting: This type of landscape painting depicts the sea, coastlines, and beaches, often with a focus on the sky and water.
- Fantastic landscape painting: This type of landscape painting depicts imaginary and fantastical environments, such as those found in fantasy and science fiction.
- Abstract landscape painting: This type of landscape painting is non-representational and often deals with the use of color, form, and texture to create a visual experience.
- Realistic landscape painting: This type of landscape painting aims to create a realistic representation of the landscape, often through the use of light, shadow, and texture.
- Impressionistic landscape painting: This type of landscape painting is characterized by the use of broken color, visible brushstrokes, and an emphasis on capturing the feeling or atmosphere of the scene.
- Post-Impressionistic landscape painting: This type of landscape painting is characterized by the use of thick, visible brushstrokes and intense colors to express emotion and create a sense of movement.
- Symbolist landscape painting: This type of landscape painting is characterized by the use of symbols and allegory to express deeper meaning and emotions.
- Hyperrealistic landscape painting: This type of landscape painting aims to create a highly realistic representation of the landscape, often through the use of detailed rendering and photorealistic techniques.
- Seascape – depicting the sea, ocean or coastal landscapes
- Coastal Landscape: A seascape painting that depicts the coastal area, including the shoreline and nearby cliffs or hills.
- Marine: A seascape painting that focuses on the ocean and its inhabitants, such as ships, whales, and dolphins.
- Stormy Sea: A seascape painting that depicts a turbulent sea with rough waves and dark clouds.
- Harbor Scene: A seascape painting that depicts a busy harbor, including boats, ships and other harbor structures.
- Beach Scene: A seascape painting that depicts a beach, including sand, water, and people or animals.
- Sunset at Sea: A seascape painting that depicts a sunset over the sea.
- Underwater: A seascape painting that depicts the underwater world, including fish, coral, and other sea creatures.
- Lighthouse: A seascape painting that depicts a lighthouse, including the surrounding sea and sky.
- Island: A seascape painting that depicts an island, including its beaches, cliffs, and vegetation.
- Seascape with ships or boats: A seascape painting that depicts ships or boats, including sailing ships and steamships.
- Still life – depicting inanimate objects in a group or composition
- Classical still life – depicts inanimate objects arranged in a traditional, formal composition.
- Contemporary still life – modern interpretation of still life painting with a focus on abstract or unexpected composition.
- Vanitas still life – a symbolic representation of the transience of life and the futility of earthly achievements and pleasures.
- Trompe-l’œil still life – creates the illusion of three-dimensionality and realism, often depicting everyday objects in a highly realistic manner.
- Nature morte – French term for “dead nature”, often depicting flowers, fruits, and other natural objects.
- Kitchen still life – painting of objects found in a kitchen such as food, utensils, and cookware.
- Mannerist still life – characterized by elongated proportions and a highly stylized or exaggerated treatment of subject matter.
- Photorealistic still life – highly detailed and realistic representation of inanimate objects using photography as a reference.
- Hyperrealistic still life – goes beyond photorealism to create an almost perfect illusion of reality in a painting.
- Abstract still life – non-representational, experimental, and often improvisational, distorting or eliminating object’s true identity.
- Abstract – depicting non-representational or non-objective forms
- Non-Objective: abstract paintings that do not depict recognizable objects or forms.
- Geometric Abstraction: abstract paintings that use geometric shapes and forms as the basis for composition.
- Color Field: abstract paintings that focus on the use of large fields of color.
- Action Painting: abstract paintings that are created by the spontaneous movement and drips of the paint.
- Lyrical Abstraction: abstract paintings that convey emotions and feelings through the use of color, shape, and brushstrokes.
- Op Art: abstract paintings that use optical illusions and visual effects to create a sense of movement and depth.
- Neo-Expressionism: abstract paintings that combine elements of expressionism with more modern techniques and styles.
- Minimalism: abstract paintings that use minimal elements and simple geometric shapes to create a sense of simplicity and purity.
- Conceptual: abstract paintings that focus on the idea or concept behind the work rather than the visual elements.
- Environmental: abstract paintings that incorporate elements of the natural world and the environment into the composition.
- Kinetic: abstract paintings that incorporate movement and dynamic elements into the composition.
- Systems: abstract paintings that use mathematical or scientific systems to create the composition.
- Process Art: abstract paintings that focus on the process of creating the work, rather than the final product.
- Post-Painterly Abstraction: abstract paintings that reject the gestural brushstrokes and focus on simpler shapes, colors and composition.
- Hard-edge painting: abstract paintings that use sharp edges, precise shapes and flat colors to give a sense of rigidity and geometric order.
- Fluxus: abstract paintings that use chance operations and unpredictable elements to create the composition.
- Neo-Conceptual: abstract paintings that combine elements of conceptual art with more traditional techniques and styles.
- Virtual: abstract paintings that are created using digital tools and techniques and often incorporate elements of motion and interactivity.
- Eco-Abstraction: abstract paintings that incorporate elements of nature and the environment into the composition.
- Hyper-realistic: abstract paintings that depict an imaginary or impossible reality with an incredible attention to detail and realism.
- Figure – depicting the human form or figure in a realistic or stylized manner
- Portrait Figure Painting: This type of figure painting focuses on the portrayal of a single person, usually a head-and-shoulders composition, often with the intention of capturing the subject’s likeness and character.
- Genre Figure Painting: This type of figure painting depicts scenes from everyday life, often in a narrative or anecdotal style.
- Historical Figure Painting: This type of figure painting depicts scenes or figures from history, often with the intention of illustrating a historical event or person.
- Mythological Figure Painting: This type of figure painting depicts scenes or figures from mythology, often with the intention of illustrating a mythological event or character.
- Nude Figure Painting: This type of figure painting depicts the naked human form, often with the intention of exploring the human form in a more artistic or expressive way.
- Action Figure Painting: This type of figure painting depicts figures in motion, often with the intention of capturing a sense of movement or action.
- Symbolist Figure Painting: This type of figure painting uses figures to symbolize an idea or emotion, rather than to depict them realistically.
- Surrealist Figure Painting: This type of figure painting uses figures in a surreal or dream-like way, often with the intention of exploring the subconscious or inner emotions.
- Abstract Figure Painting: This type of figure painting uses figures in an abstract way, often with the intention of exploring form and color rather than realism.
- Fantasy Figure Painting: This type of figure painting uses figures in a fantastical or imaginary way, often with the intention of exploring the imagination or creating a sense of wonder.
- Animal – depicting animals in a realistic or stylized manner
- Wildlife painting
- Pet portrait painting
- Equine painting
- Marine life painting
- Bird painting
- Insect and arachnid painting
- Reptile and amphibian painting
- Mammal painting
- Fish painting
- Hunting and game painting
- Zoo animal painting
- Mythological creature painting
- Fantasy animal painting
- Extinct animal painting
- Safari painting
- Farm animal painting
- Domestic animal painting
- Animal still life painting
- Animal landscape painting
- Animal seascape painting.
- Cityscape – depicting urban environments or cityscapes
- Urban Landscape – Depicting the built environment of cities, including buildings, streets, and infrastructure.
- Industrial Landscape – Depicting the industrial areas and factories of cities.
- Cityscape at Night – Depicting the city at night, often with an emphasis on artificial lighting.
- Aerial View – Depicting the city from an aerial perspective, often used to convey the scale and layout of the city.
- Futuristic Cityscape – Depicting a imagined or imagined future version of the city.
- Historical Cityscape – Depicting the city as it appeared in the past, often in a nostalgic or romanticized manner.
- Trompe-l’œil Cityscape – Depicting the city in a realistic manner that is intended to deceive the viewer into thinking the painting is a window or photograph.
- City in Ruins – Depicting a city that has been abandoned or destroyed, often with an emphasis on decay and ruin.
- Street Scene – Depicting everyday life on the streets of the city, often including people, vehicles, and street vendors.
- City in Motion – Depicting the city in a dynamic way, often with an emphasis on movement and change over time.
- Fantasy – depicting imaginative or surreal scenes or subjects
- Surreal Fantasy – This subcategory of fantasy painting combines elements of reality with the fantastical and dreamlike, often depicting scenes that are impossible in reality.
- Mythical Fantasy – This subcategory of fantasy painting focuses on depicting mythical creatures and beings, such as dragons, unicorns, and other legendary figures.
- Dark Fantasy – This subcategory of fantasy painting explores darker, more ominous themes and often features elements of horror and the macabre.
- Steampunk Fantasy – This subcategory of fantasy painting combines elements of fantasy with the aesthetic of Victorian-era technology and machinery.
- High Fantasy – This subcategory of fantasy painting explores epic, grandiose themes and often features elements of magic and otherworldly landscapes.
- Low Fantasy – This subcategory of fantasy painting explores more grounded, realistic themes and often features elements of folklore and mythology.
- Cyberpunk Fantasy – This subcategory of fantasy painting combines elements of fantasy with the aesthetic of a dystopian, technologically advanced future.
- Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy – This subcategory of fantasy painting explores the aftermath of a catastrophic event and often features elements of survival and rebuilding in a fantastical setting.
- Narrative – depicting a story or scene with a clear narrative
- Historical Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story from history, often with an emphasis on historical accuracy and realistic depiction of characters and events.
- Mythological Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story from mythology, often with an emphasis on fantasy or supernatural elements.
- Religious Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story from religious texts or beliefs, often with an emphasis on religious symbolism and iconography.
- Allegorical Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story with symbolic or metaphorical meaning, often with an emphasis on moral or social commentary.
- Genre Painting: Depicts a scene or story from everyday life, often with an emphasis on realism and the depiction of social customs and activities.
- Romantic Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story with an emphasis on emotion, drama, and the expression of human feelings.
- Symbolist Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story with an emphasis on symbols and abstract imagery, often with an emphasis on the exploration of the subconscious and the inner self.
- Surreal Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story with an emphasis on the fantastical and the irrational, often with an emphasis on the exploration of the subconscious and the manipulation of reality.
- Social Realist Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story with an emphasis on social and political issues, often with an emphasis on the depiction of the lives and struggles of working-class and marginalized people.
- Pop Narrative Painting: Depicts a scene or story with an emphasis on popular culture and consumerism, often with an emphasis on bright colors and bold, graphic design elements.
- Genre – depicting everyday scenes or events from everyday life
- Historical genre painting: Depicting scenes from history or from everyday life in a historically accurate manner.
- Contemporary genre painting: Depicting modern-day scenes from everyday life.
- Human genre painting: Depicting human figures and their interactions in various situations.
- Animal genre painting: Depicting animals and their interactions in various situations.
- Fantasy genre painting: Depicting fantastical or imaginary scenes and creatures.
- Satirical genre painting: Depicting social or political commentary through humorous or critical scenes.
- Storytelling genre painting: Depicting scenes from a specific story or narrative.
- Psychological genre painting: Depicting scenes that explore the inner thoughts and emotions of the figures depicted.
- Domestic genre painting: Depicting scenes from domestic life and the home.
- Sporting genre painting: Depicting scenes from various sports and leisure activities.
- Mythological – depicting scenes or characters from myths or legends
- Classical Mythology – paintings depicting scenes and characters from ancient Greek and Roman myths, often featuring gods and goddesses in grand, heroic poses.
- Religious Mythology – paintings depicting scenes and characters from religious myths, such as scenes from the Bible or Hindu mythology.
- Folklore and Fairy Tales – paintings depicting scenes and characters from traditional folktales and fairy tales, often featuring fantasy creatures and magical elements.
- Contemporary Mythology – paintings depicting modern, invented myths, often with a surreal or fantastical theme.
- Symbolism – paintings with a hidden symbolic meaning, often featuring mythological or allegorical imagery.
- Historical – depicting historical events or figures
- Battle scenes
- Religious scenes
- Portraits of historical figures
- Historical events and scenes
- Mythological and allegorical scenes
- Scenes from literature and folklore
- Historical landscapes and cityscapes
- Costumes and fashions of the past
- Historical still lifes and interiors
- Propaganda and political art.
- Religious – depicting religious subjects or scenes from religious texts
- Christian art
- Hindu art
- Buddhist art
- Islamic art
- Jewish art
- Sikh art
- Shamanic art
- Zoroastrian art
- Animist art
- Jain art
- Baha’i art
- Shinto art
- Confucian art
- Taoist art
- Zoroastrian art
- Wiccan art
- Native American art
- African Traditional art
- Pacific Islander art
- Australian Indigenous art
- Political – depicting political subjects or messages
- Propaganda art – artwork that is created to promote a particular political ideology or agenda.
- Social Realism – artwork that depicts the social and economic conditions of the time, often with a focus on the struggles of the working class.
- Political satire – artwork that uses humor and irony to criticize or mock political figures or institutions.
- Activist art – artwork that is created with the intention of raising awareness or promoting social or political change.
- Protest art – artwork that is created in response to a specific event or issue, often as a form of protest or social commentary.
- Street art – artwork created in public spaces, often using graffiti or other forms of urban art to make a political statement.
- War art – artwork that depicts the experiences and impact of war on individuals and societies.
- Environmental art – artwork that addresses environmental issues and promotes conservation and sustainability.
- Patriotic art – artwork that celebrates and promotes the values and symbols of a particular nation or country.
- Political Pop Art – artwork that uses elements of pop art to make a political statement or comment on contemporary culture.
- Science fiction – depicting futuristic or technologically advanced subjects
- Cyberpunk – A subgenre of science fiction that features advanced technology, often in a dystopian setting.
- Space Opera – A subgenre of science fiction that takes place in outer space and often features epic battles and interstellar politics.
- Steampunk – A subgenre of science fiction that combines technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.
- Dieselpunk – A subgenre of science fiction that combines technology and aesthetic designs inspired by the diesel era of the early 20th century.
- Retrofuturism – A subgenre of science fiction that combines technology and aesthetic designs inspired by the mid-20th century idea of what the future would look like.
- Post-apocalyptic – A subgenre of science fiction that depicts a world or society after a catastrophic event such as a nuclear war or zombie outbreak.
- Time travel – A subgenre of science fiction that deals with the concept of time travel, either through scientific means or other means such as magic.
- Aliens and UFOs – A subgenre of science fiction that deals with the idea of extraterrestrial life and their interactions with humanity.
- Artificial intelligence – A subgenre of science fiction that deals with the idea of intelligent machines and their impact on humanity.
- Virtual reality – A subgenre of science fiction that deals with the idea of virtual worlds and the impact on humanity.
- Surreal – depicting scenes or subjects in a dreamlike or fantastical manner
- Dreamlike Surrealism: Depicts a dreamlike, otherworldly quality and often includes elements of the subconscious and the irrational.
- Automatism Surrealism: Involves the spontaneous, automatic creation of imagery without conscious thought or intention.
- Fantastic Surrealism: Depicts fantastical, often nightmarish or eerie imagery and may include elements of the supernatural or otherworldly.
- Biomorphic Surrealism: Features organic, abstract shapes and forms that often resemble living organisms.
- Surrealist Portraiture: Portraits that incorporate elements of surrealism to distort or challenge traditional notions of reality in the subject’s appearance.
- Surrealist Landscapes: Landscapes that incorporate elements of surrealism to create a distorted or fantastical version of reality.
- Surrealist Collage: A technique that combines found objects, photographs, and other materials to create a surreal composition.
- Surrealist Photography: Photography that incorporates surrealist elements, such as double exposure, to create a distorted or fantastical image.
- Surrealist Installation: A type of installation art that creates a surreal environment or atmosphere.
- Surrealist Performance: A type of performance art that incorporates elements of surrealism to create a dreamlike or otherworldly experience for the audience.
- Pop – depicting popular culture subjects or scenes
- Pop Art Portraits – These paintings depict famous people or characters in a stylized, colorful and often humorous way, using elements of popular culture such as advertising and comics.
- Pop Art Landscapes – These paintings depict urban or suburban landscapes and cityscapes in a bold and colorful style, often with a focus on the built environment and man-made elements such as billboards and signs.
- Pop Art Still Life – These paintings depict everyday objects, such as food and household items, in a highly stylized and often humorous way, using bright colors and bold patterns.
- Pop Art Abstract – These paintings use bold and bright colors, simple shapes and strong lines to create a sense of movement and energy, often drawing inspiration from popular culture and advertising.
- Pop Art Political – These paintings use the style and techniques of Pop Art to comment on political issues and events, often using satire and irony to make a statement.
- Pop Art Social Commentary – These paintings use the style and techniques of Pop Art to comment on social issues and contemporary culture, often using humor and satire to make a statement.
- Environmental – depicting environmental or conservation-related subjects
- Landscape painting – Depicts natural landscapes such as mountains, forests, beaches, and more.
- Cityscape painting – Depicts urban landscapes such as cities, towns, and other man-made environments.
- Industrial painting – Depicts industrial landscapes such as factories, power plants, and other types of industrial buildings.
- Pollution painting – Depicts the negative impacts of human activity on the environment, such as pollution and deforestation.
- Climate change painting – Depicts the effects of climate change on the environment, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
- Conservation painting – Depicts efforts to preserve and protect natural resources and wildlife.
- Sustainability painting – Depicts sustainable practices and ways to live in harmony with the environment.
- Eco-activism painting – Depicts activism and protests related to environmental issues.
- Post-Apocalyptic painting – Depicts a world after a catastrophic event and its effects on the environment
- Dystopian painting – Depicts a world where the environment is damaged, polluted, and uninhabitable
- Conceptual – depicting ideas or concepts in an abstract manner.
- Minimalist Conceptual Painting: A style of conceptual painting that emphasizes simplicity and minimalism in both the subject matter and the composition.
- Social and Political Conceptual Painting: A style of conceptual painting that addresses social and political issues through abstract imagery and symbolism.
- Performance Conceptual Painting: A style of conceptual painting that incorporates elements of performance art, often using the body as a medium for the painting.
- Text-Based Conceptual Painting: A style of conceptual painting that incorporates text or written language into the composition as a means of conveying a message or concept.
- Site-Specific Conceptual Painting: A style of conceptual painting that is created specifically for a particular location or site, often involving elements of installation art.
- Process-Based Conceptual Painting: A style of conceptual painting that focuses on the process of creating the painting, rather than the finished product.
- Conceptual Landscape Painting: A style of conceptual painting that reinterprets traditional landscape painting by incorporating abstract elements or conceptual ideas.
- Conceptual Portrait Painting: A style of conceptual painting that reinterprets traditional portrait painting by incorporating abstract elements or conceptual ideas.
- Conceptual Still Life Painting: A style of conceptual painting that reinterprets traditional still life painting by incorporating abstract elements or conceptual ideas.
- Conceptual Abstraction: A style of conceptual painting that emphasizes abstraction to convey a concept or idea.