The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word PORTRAYING
P
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Painting" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case painting = portraying.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PORTRAYING mean?
PORTRAYING verb- To paint or draw the likeness of.
- To describe in words; to convey.
- To play a role; to depict a character, person, situation, or event.
- To adorn.