A painting method in which a painting object is connected via a holder to an arm leading end portion of a painting robot and the painting object is painted by paint spraying from a spraying means while displacing the painting object relative to the spraying means by an action of the painting robot; comprising the steps of: in a preceding painting area, effecting a preceding painting on the painting object by paint spraying from a preceding spraying means while displacing the painting object relative to the preceding spraying means by an action of a preceding painting robot, with keeping the painting object connected via the holder to an arm leading end portion of the preceding painting robot; in a subsequent painting area (2") subsequently to the preceding painting in the preceding painting area, effecting a subsequent painting on the painting object by paint spraying from a subsequent spraying means (4") while displacing the painting object relative to the subsequent spraying means (4") by an action of a subsequent painting robot (6"), with keeping the painting object connected via the holder to an arm leading end portion of the subsequent painting robot (6"); characterized by the steps of after completion of the preceding painting in the preceding painting area, causing the painting object to be held to a transfer section located near the two painting areas (2', 2"), by an action of the preceding painting robot, releasing a connection between the arm leading end portion of the preceding painting robot and the holder with keeping connection between the painting object and the holder; retracting the arm leading end portion of the preceding painting robot from the transfer section, connecting, by an action of the subsequent painting robot (6"), an arm leading end portion of the subsequent painting robot (6") to the holder which is being held to the transfer section, with keeping the connection thereof to the painting object, and shifting to the subsequent painting in the subsequent painting area (2") in succession. in a preceding painting area, effecting a preceding painting on the painting object by paint spraying from a preceding spraying means while displacing the painting object relative to the preceding spraying means by an action of a preceding painting robot, with keeping the painting object connected via the holder to an arm leading end portion of the preceding painting robot; in a subsequent painting area (2") subsequently to the preceding painting in the preceding painting area, effecting a subsequent painting on the painting object by paint spraying from a subsequent spraying means (4") while displacing the painting object relative to the subsequent spraying means (4") by an action of a subsequent painting robot (6"), with keeping the painting object connected via the holder to an arm leading end portion of the subsequent painting robot (6"); characterized by the steps of after completion of the preceding painting in the preceding painting area, causing the painting object to be held to a transfer section located near the two painting areas (2', 2"), by an action of the preceding painting robot, releasing a connection between the arm leading end portion of the preceding painting robot and the holder with keeping connection between the painting object and the holder; retracting the arm leading end portion of the preceding painting robot from the transfer section, connecting, by an action of the subsequent painting robot (6"), an arm leading end portion of the subsequent painting robot (6") to the holder which is being held to the transfer section, with keeping the connection thereof to the painting object, and shifting to the subsequent painting in the subsequent painting area (2") in succession.