painted by

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Used after a verb like 'be' or 'was' to name the person who made a picture with paint.

   Grammar: It follows a passive form of 'paint': the painting was painted by someone.

   Patterns

   • be painted by someone
   • was painted by someone
   • a picture painted by someone

   This portrait was painted by my grandmother in 1952.

   The whole ceiling was painted by a team of six artists.

   A landscape painted by Turner sold for a record price.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Used to name the person who put paint on a surface, wall, or object.

   Grammar: The object after 'by' is the person who did the painting, not the thing painted.

   Patterns

   • be painted by someone
   • had the door painted by someone

   Our kitchen was painted by a professional last spring.

   The fence was painted by the children themselves.

   She had the whole house painted by a local firm.

3. 3phrasefixed phrasefigurative

   Used figuratively to describe something shaped or influenced by a particular force or person.

   Grammar: Often used of ideas, moods, or scenes rather than real pictures.

   Patterns

   • be painted by something
   • a scene painted by light

   The novel shows a world painted by fear and suspicion.

   The evening sky seemed painted by fire.

   His memories are painted by nostalgia.

Common combinations

painted by hand

Each tile was painted by hand, so no two are alike.

painted by a famous artist

The canvas was painted by a famous artist of the period.

painted by numbers

The children followed a kit and painted by numbers.

was painted by

The old barn was painted by the farmer every summer.

painted by the light

The hills looked painted by the evening light.

Synonyms and how they differ

done by

Much more general; use it for any task, not just making a picture with paint.

created by

Focuses on the act of making something new; it fits art, music, or writing, not repainting a wall.

made by

Wider and plainer; it works for objects, but 'painted by' is needed when paint is the key action.

Word family

paint verb

To put color on a surface or make a picture with paint.

painter noun

A person who paints pictures or paints surfaces.

painting noun

A picture made with paint, or the activity of painting.

painted adjective

Covered with paint, or shown in a picture.

Commonly confused: painted by or painted on?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “painted by”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words