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Best Oil Paints Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Personal preference is what makes the best oil paint sets. Most people prefer to get paints that are fade-resistant, have brilliant pigments, and are simple to work with. The most imperative colors to have in your oil paint set are reds, yellows, and blues. However, depending upon your artistic ideas you may choose to have several other colors included on your painting pallet.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Color
When you are setting up your oil painting pallet, there are only a few colors you need to start with. Those are the true primary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow; you can three colors to match these primary colors and they are—Phatalo cyan blue, Quinacrione magenta, and Azzo yellow; you can then add titanium white and black. With oil paints as long as you have the primary colors the array is endless.
Oil paints are slow drying, therefore, you can change the consistency of the paint by adding some turpentine (paint thinner) or adding more color base to make changes to what you have painted on your canvas.
Accessories
Whenever you start a new hobby, there are always accessories you need to get going. With a hobby that has to do with art, you need to ensure that you purchase everything you are going to need in order to set up the perfect art studio. You should pick a room in your home that gives you inspiration. One that has windows that look outdoors with a beautiful view--or at least an inspirational view. If you live in the city, or a small apartment, it may be hard to find such a room or view. However, you can improvise by putting up posters of outdoor scenes inside your apartment.
There are several accessories you will need to get started oil painting. First and foremost you will need a painter’s palette for your oil paints. You will also need some plastic storage jars with lids to keep your paint in when not in use on the palette. You will also need a supply of various size paint brushes, turpentine, and newspapers. One other accessory you are going to need is a painter’s smock to wear as a cover over your clothing while painting. Also, you need some type of tarp to protect the floor from oil paint droppings.
Materials
Synthetic paint brushes are a much-needed supply that is needed for any oil painter. The reason for synthetic brushes is because they are less likely to shed bristles onto your painting masterpiece. Another important material you are going to need is some type of cleanser to use to clean the oil paint from the brushes. Oil paint does not wash off with soap and water; therefore, you are going to need some turpentine (paint thinner) or odorless mineral spirits. You will need to have some type of metal container that has a good seal in which to store your paint thinner/remover in.
If you want to go the environmentally friendly route, there are other options to use instead of turpentine. There is a completely safe material called, Turpenoid Natural to use when cleaning brushes. However, you do need some form of container to store the run-off in until you can take it to a toxic waste center.
Ease of Use
Oil painting is probably one of the easiest hobbies one could have. After you have all your supplies, accessories, and materials together you set up your palette with at least two blues, two reds, two yellows, and white color. Then you can mix and stir and paint whatever comes to mind on your canvas. The wonderful thing about oil paint is that it dries very slowly; so if you are not pleased with the way your painting looks, you can add some paint thinner to change the design. You can use the paint thinner to also create different shades of the original colors on your palette. The ease of use with oil painting is endless in what you will be able to create on a blank canvas.
Water Capacity
Believe it or not, there are water-soluble oil paints. Water soluble oils have the same texture as conventional oil paints, but minus the smell of solvents and also you can use soap and water to clean your brushes, workspace, and palette.
10 Best Oil Paint Sets
1. Pentel Arts
Pentel makes some oil pastels that come in a 50-piece set. These pastels come in brilliant colors and can be put on simply and merged with other colors to make so many beautiful color combinations. You will be able to create many tints, shades, and blends of color.
Simple to Use & Safe
These oil pastels are simple to use, artists of any age can get creative. Pastels are free of acid and can be used on paper, canvas, or boards.
Brilliant Colors
Oil pastels are much more brilliant colors than chalky brands. They also are resilient against the effects of humidity, and your drawings will last much longer.
Cost and Value
They will prove their value the instant you open the container they arrive in. They come in a variety of sizes – 50 count is the most popular; however, they also have a 12-count and 24-count size. The price is minimal, but the value is greater than the monetary savings.
2. Royal & Langnickel
This product made by Royal & Langnickel is perfect for the artist that loves to travel. This kit includes special brushes with the Regis name on them. You can buy it and give it away to your student who is an aspiring artist, or even buys it for yourself if you are an up and coming artist.
Flip-Up Brush Organizer
This art kit has a flip-up brush organizer which ensures that the brushes are in good condition. All the supplies in this kit are kept in a container which stores and protects everything in a wooden box.
Easy to Use
The Royal & Langnickel Regis Oil Color kit is so easy to use when traveling or just putting away into storage for later use.
Cost & Value
The cost of this oil color kit made by Royal & Langnickel is minimal in comparison to the actual value you will receive from your purchase. For a minimal price, you are going to get all the necessary supplies you need to become a complete artist.
3. Winsor & Newton
This mixable oil color set made by Winsor & Newton has been created to look and act just like standard oil color set works. This is the perfect kit for budding artists who are sharing a workspace together, for schools who train artists as well as for those who are artists working from home.
Includes all the Primary Colors
This mixable oil color set includes all the primary colors needed for the right combination of colors. With all the colors included in this set, you can create new color combinations and hues.
Environmentally Friendly
The oils in this set are water soluble, its chemical base is only changed slightly yet its main chemical balance remains the same as all oil-based colors.
Cost & Value
This art set holds a lot of value because it is environmentally friendly and water soluble. The price is a little higher than other sets; however, you will soon discover that this is greater than the monetary value.
4. US Art Supply
This US Art Supply has a set which includes 24 professional colors. Each 24 ml tube comes in vibrant colors that students, artists, and beginning artists are going to love. You will be able to create beautiful creations on canvas just like a professional artist does with these wonderful tints.
Unique Colors
With these unique, brilliant colors you will be able to design your own artistic masterpieces. U.S. Art Supplies has lots of colorful tints that are superior in quality and will make your artwork look alive.
Easy to Use
These art supplies are fun to use and kid-friendly. An oil-based, acid-free, and non-toxic they are in agreement with ASTM D4236 and EN 71 codes. These items are loved by teachers and adults and even children can enjoy using them.
Cost and Value
When it comes to choosing suppliers for art, you cannot go wrong if you choose these supplies from US Art Supply The cost is minimal for what you get; however, the value is not monetary based. You are simply going to love this product made for the whole family to enjoy.
5. Williamsburg
This traditional oil color set made by Williamsburg has eight 11 ml brilliant primary colors and one tube that is 37 ml of white. These paints are handmade and recognized for the lightfastness that they provide.
Excellent Gift Giving Idea
If you have an artist (or aspiring artist) on your gift list; this item is a great idea to give them. The artist in your life will enjoy hours of creating masterpieces with this set of Williamsburg traditional oil colors.
Contains 8 Vibrant Colors
This traditional oil color set contains 8 primary colors in 11 ml tubes and a larger tube of white so that the artist receiving this set can mix and create several different hues to work with.
Cost and Value
This set from Williamsburg is worth much more than its monetary value. The recipient of this traditional oil color set is going to find much enjoyment in painting and creating works of art.
6. Castle Art Supplies
This set is made by Castle Art Supplies will make it fun and exciting to learn and experience the wonders of working with oils. The items in this set have the ultimate in coverage, with 24 tubes of colors that are vivid and beautiful.
Easy to Mix
You will be able to start painting right away because the colors available are all the fundamental shades you need. Castle Art Supplies set has easy to mix paints that enable you to create new and various shades and hues of the prime colors.
Dramatic Results
When you use the paint in this Castle Art Supplies kit you will be stunned by the magnificent consistency they have. The fascinating results will amaze you when you see great it looks on your canvas masterpiece.
Cost and Value
The quality of this product will prove their invaluable beyond any monetary means. The price is reasonable and the money back guarantee gives it even greater value.
7. MozArt Supplies
This art set made by MozArt Supplies comes in a set of 24 colors in 12 ml tubes. This is made by artist grade and professional artists, students, and beginning painters use it. This item is ideal for use on canvas, doing wall art, murals, landscapes, and portraits.
Artist Grade
There are 24 luxuriously-pigmented colors in this MozArt set. All these colors can be mixed to create new shades and hues to try out.
Lightfast and Quick Drying
The colors do not fade once they have dried on your artwork; they continue to sustain the brightness of the original tint.
Cost and Value
The price of this set is affordably priced; however, the value is much more than monetary. You are going to be impressed with all you get for the money spent.
8. ZenART’s Essential Palette
ZenArt makes a set that has all the primary colors. Non-toxic and lightfast, this set was created with the artist in mind. These colors create a harmonic balance when you are creating your palette full of unlimited colorful tints.
Made for Professional Artists
This brand is a fine value of the product which has been created with the best quality pigments that are non-toxic and create the best mixtures of color when blended together. These oils are lightfast, which means that they do not fade when exposed to light while drying.
Fine Consistency
This item has a fine consistency; it is non-toxic and thick and creamy. These colors have a quality of pigments and clarity in coverage and tint.
Cost and Value
When you purchase this brand you will receive 8 tubes of high-quality product in 1.52-ounce tubes. The quality of dye is far greater than monetary value, once you see how fantastic this product is you will agree it is invaluable.
9. Gamblin
This option made by Gamblin is an ideal set of paints that are excellent and intensely rich in pigment colors that are long-lasting. The set comes in a gel-primed wood panel and includes nine 37 ml solvent-free colors that are artist grade.
Intense colors
These tints in this set are succulent and intense; the pigments are rich in vibrant colors that are long-lasting.
Hand-crafted wood panel
This Gamblin Artist Oil color set comes in a hand-crafted wooden panel. It has been substantiated from North American forested birch wood.
Cost and Value
This set costs a little more than other sets; however, you will soon discover that the value of this set is far greater than its cost. This fine product is going to aid you in creating many brilliant masterpieces.
10. Bob Ross
This set of landscape tints made by Bob Ross comes in a set of 14; they are available in 200 ml tubes. These Bob Ross products offer the ideal “wet on wet” technique.
All the Primary Colors
This Bob Ross product includes a 200 ml tube of each of the primary colors you need to work with. Each of the colors is rich in pigments and can be mixed into an array of combinations.
Specially Formulated
This product is formulated specially to be stiff but to still have a smooth consistency. They come in rich colors that are simple to work with and fun to discover the various colors you can create.
Cost and Value
This set made by Bob Ross will prove its value time and time again. Even though they are a bit pricier than other brands, their value goes farther than the monetary amount. You are going to love working with these colorful tints and creating beautiful, artistic masterpieces.
