You’re searching for oil paints that won’t disappoint. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned professional, you’ll find that quality matters enormously. The right set can transform your work’s vibrancy and longevity. But with countless options available, how do you know which paints truly deserve a spot on your easel? Let’s explore the seven sets that professionals trust.
Quick Overview
- Professional-grade pigments with superior lightfastness ensure colors remain vibrant and fade-resistant for decades.
- Creamy, finely-ground formulas enable smooth application and superior blending capabilities preferred by experienced artists.
- Sets containing 24-48 tubes provide optimal balance between extensive color variety and practical studio storage.
- Non-toxic, internationally certified formulations protect artist health while maintaining professional-quality results and performance standards.
- Versatile surface compatibility across canvas, wood, paper, and clay offers flexibility for diverse artistic techniques.
| Zenacolor Oil Paint Set 48 Tubes for Canvas |
| Best Variety | Number of Colors: 48 colors | Tube Size: Standard size (not specified) | Lightfastness/Permanence: High lightfastness and durability | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| PHOENIX Oil Paint Set 24 Tubes Non-toxic |
| Best For Safety | Number of Colors: 24 colors | Tube Size: 12 ml per tube | Lightfastness/Permanence: Excellent lightfastness, UV stable | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| RoseArt Premium Oil Paint Set 12 Colors |
| Premium Quality | Number of Colors: 12 colors | Tube Size: 0.4 oz per tube | Lightfastness/Permanence: Premium quality, maximum strength pigment | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| ZenART Impressionist Professional Oil Paint Set (8 Tubes) |
| Best For Impressionism | Number of Colors: 8 colors | Tube Size: 50 ml per tube | Lightfastness/Permanence: Lightfast | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Ohuhu Oil Paint Set 36 Non-Toxic Colors for Artists |
| Most Versatile | Number of Colors: 36 colors | Tube Size: 12 ml per tube | Lightfastness/Permanence: Richly pigmented | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Ohuhu Oil Paint Set 24 Colors (12ml Tubes) |
| Best Value | Number of Colors: 24 colors | Tube Size: 12 ml per tube | Lightfastness/Permanence: Vibrant colors | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Color 200ml (6.75-oz) Tube Titanium White |
| Professional Grade | Number of Colors: Single color (Titanium White) | Tube Size: 200 ml per tube | Lightfastness/Permanence: ASTM I – Excellent lightfastness | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
More Details on Our Top Picks
Zenacolor Oil Paint Set 48 Tubes for Canvas
Whether you’re a beginner exploring oil painting or a seasoned professional seeking versatility, the Zenacolor 48-tube set delivers vibrant, long-lasting colors that won’t compromise on quality. You’ll appreciate how quickly these oils dry while maintaining intensity and depth, thanks to superior lightfastness that guarantees your work endures. The extensive palette includes every rainbow hue, giving you unlimited mixing possibilities to expand your creative vision. These paints adapt seamlessly to canvas, paper, glass, and clay, making them incredibly versatile for your projects. The easy-to-mix formula encourages experimentation, while the professional-grade pigments produce incredible results whether you’re just starting out or perfecting your craft.
- Number of Colors:48 colors
- Tube Size:Standard size (not specified)
- Lightfastness/Permanence:High lightfastness and durability
- Suitable Surfaces:Canvas, drawing paper, sketchbook, oil paint paper, wallpaper, glass, clay
- Safety Certification:Not specified
- Skill Level Suitability:Beginner to professional
- Additional Feature:Largest color variety available
- Additional Feature:Easy color mixing capability
- Additional Feature:Versatile surface compatibility
PHOENIX Oil Paint Set 24 Tubes Non-toxic
The PHOENIX Oil Paint Set stands out as an ideal choice for beginners and amateur artists who want professional-quality results without the premium price tag. You’ll appreciate the 24 vibrant tubes with exceptional color saturation and strong tinting strength. The finely ground pigments deliver smooth application across canvas, wood panels, and other surfaces. These oils dry slowly, allowing you time to blend and refine your work while maintaining brilliant colors. With excellent lightfastness and UV stability, your finished pieces won’t fade. The creamy consistency lets you build texture or thin with medium. EN 71 and ASTM-4236 certifications guarantee safety, making this set perfect for learning color theory and techniques.
- Number of Colors:24 colors
- Tube Size:12 ml per tube
- Lightfastness/Permanence:Excellent lightfastness, UV stable
- Suitable Surfaces:Canvas, oil color pad, wood panels, other surfaces
- Safety Certification:EN 71 and ASTM-4236 certified safe
- Skill Level Suitability:Beginner and amateur
- Additional Feature:British formulation and tradition
- Additional Feature:Strong tinting strength pigments
- Additional Feature:Ideal for group activities
RoseArt Premium Oil Paint Set 12 Colors
For artists seeking a wide-ranging starter set with professional-grade pigments, RoseArt Premium Oil Paint Set delivers maximum strength colors in a convenient 12-count package. You’ll find essential hues including Mid Green, Sap Green, Lemon Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Vermilion, Cadmium White, Titanium White, Black, Burnt Umber, Violet, Cobalt Blue, and Ultramarine Blue. Each .4oz tube features a rich, buttery texture that glides smoothly across canvas, wood, and paper, providing exceptional coverage. The paint’s premium quality enables you to blend, layer, and create texture effortlessly. RoseArt’s century-long dedication to fine art quality guarantees you’re investing in reliable, artist-grade supplies that won’t compromise your work.
- Number of Colors:12 colors
- Tube Size:0.4 oz per tube
- Lightfastness/Permanence:Premium quality, maximum strength pigment
- Suitable Surfaces:Canvas, wood, paper
- Safety Certification:Not specified
- Skill Level Suitability:Not explicitly stated
- Additional Feature:Century-old family business heritage
- Additional Feature:Buttery smooth texture application
- Additional Feature:Maximum strength pigment formulation
ZenART Impressionist Professional Oil Paint Set (8 Tubes)
If you’re seeking professional-grade oil paints without the hassle of mixing mediums or tolerating harsh fumes, ZenART’s Impressionist set delivers exactly what you need. You’ll get eight vibrant colors in generous 1.7 fl oz tubes, including essential hues like Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Rubine Red, and multiple blues perfect for landscapes and seascapes. The highly pigmented, creamy formula works beautifully with the Alla Prima wet-on-wet technique, requiring no extra mediums. Since these paints are non-toxic, eco-friendly, and vegan while conforming to international standards, you can paint confidently. Whether you’re a beginner or professional, this set provides versatility—you can even combine it with other ZenART palettes for expanded color options.
- Number of Colors:8 colors
- Tube Size:50 ml per tube
- Lightfastness/Permanence:Lightfast
- Suitable Surfaces:Canvas, and landscapes/seascapes
- Safety Certification:ASTMD4236 compliant, non-toxic, eco-friendly
- Skill Level Suitability:Beginner to professional
- Additional Feature:Large 50ml tube sizes
- Additional Feature:Odorless painting experience
- Additional Feature:Wet-on-wet ready application
Ohuhu Oil Paint Set 36 Non-Toxic Colors for Artists
Ohuhu’s 36-color oil paint set offers an excellent entry point for beginners and students who want professional-quality results without the premium price tag. You’ll appreciate the vibrant, richly pigmented tubes—each delivering 12ml of color—ideal for landscapes, portraits, and abstract work. The non-toxic formula conforms to safety standards ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3, making it suitable for classrooms and younger artists. You’ll benefit from the quick-drying finish that guarantees durability, while the portable design lets you paint anywhere. With its 4.5-star rating and ranking as the #135 best art paint, this set demonstrates that you don’t need expensive supplies to create compelling artwork.
- Number of Colors:36 colors
- Tube Size:12 ml per tube
- Lightfastness/Permanence:Richly pigmented
- Suitable Surfaces:Canvas, paper, various surfaces
- Safety Certification:ASTM D-4236 & EN71-3 (CE) compliant, non-toxic
- Skill Level Suitability:Beginner to professional
- Additional Feature:Travel-friendly portability design
- Additional Feature:Quick-drying formulation
- Additional Feature:Highly ranked product (4.5★)
Ohuhu Oil Paint Set 24 Colors (12ml Tubes)
The Ohuhu Oil Paint Set delivers 24 vibrant, professionally-formulated colors in convenient 12ml tubes that won’t weigh down your studio bag. You’ll get essential hues spanning yellows, blues, greens, reds, and earth tones—everything you need for landscapes, portraits, and abstract work. These non-toxic paints conform to ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 standards, so you’re working with quality materials. The quick-drying formula guarantees your layers set faster, building durability into your finished pieces. Whether you’re painting on canvas, paper, or mixed surfaces, you’ll appreciate the portability and versatility this set offers for serious studio work.
- Number of Colors:24 colors
- Tube Size:12 ml per tube
- Lightfastness/Permanence:Vibrant colors
- Suitable Surfaces:Paper, canvas, various surfaces
- Safety Certification:ASTM D-4236 & EN71-3 (CE) compliant, non-toxic
- Skill Level Suitability:Beginner to professional
- Additional Feature:Multi-surface painting capability
- Additional Feature:Beginner to professional range
- Additional Feature:Durable quick-dry finish
Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Color 200ml (6.75-oz) Tube Titanium White
Winsor & Newton’s Winton Oil Color in Titanium White stands out as an excellent choice for professionals who prioritize reliability and value. You’ll appreciate the generous 200ml tube size, which provides excellent coverage for large-scale projects. With an AA permanence rating and ASTM I lightfastness, your work won’t fade or deteriorate over time. The opaque formula (O) gives you excellent coverage and mixing versatility, making it ideal for building layers and creating highlights. As a Series 1 paint, you’ll find it reasonably priced without sacrificing quality. Whether you’re blocking in backgrounds or fine-tuning details, this Titanium White delivers consistent, professional results that justify its trusted reputation among serious artists.
- Number of Colors:Single color (Titanium White)
- Tube Size:200 ml per tube
- Lightfastness/Permanence:ASTM I – Excellent lightfastness
- Suitable Surfaces:Not specified
- Safety Certification:Not specified
- Skill Level Suitability:Professional
- Additional Feature:Extra-large 200ml tube size
- Additional Feature:AA permanence rating (highest)
- Additional Feature:Professional-grade single pigment
Factors to Consider When Choosing Oil Paints
When you’re selecting oil paints, you’ll want to evaluate pigment quality and lightfastness to guarantee your work withstands time without fading. Consider drying time and application properties alongside the color range available, as these factors directly impact your workflow and creative possibilities. You should also assess set sizes, value for your budget, and surface compatibility options to find the paints that best suit your artistic practice.
Pigment Quality and Lightfastness
Since you’re investing in oil paints, understanding pigment quality and lightfastness becomes essential to protecting your artistic vision. High-quality pigments deliver superior color intensity, depth, and vibrancy that elevate your work’s impact. They’re worth the investment.
Lightfastness ratings matter tremendously. You’ll want to check the ASTM scale, where ASTM I represents excellent lightfastness and longevity. This rating tells you whether your colors will maintain their brilliance or fade when exposed to UV light and environmental factors over time.
Drying Time and Application
Oil paint’s drying speed directly influences your creative process and technique selection. Fast-drying formulas (12-24 hours) let you layer quickly, while slower-drying paints (several days) give you extended blending windows for seamless changes.
Buttery, thick paints naturally dry slower than fluid formulas, affecting your application approach. You’ll find that thinner consistency works better for glazing techniques, whereas heavier paints suit impasto work.
Mediums and thinners are your secret tools for customizing drying times and working properties. Adding these agents enables wet-on-wet painting, allowing you to manipulate colors across your canvas longer.
Choose based on your intended effects. Need quick layering? Select faster-drying brands. Prefer blended, soft edges? Opt for slower formulas or add appropriate mediums. Matching your paint’s drying characteristics to your technique guarantees professional results.
Color Range and Variety
The colors you choose fundamentally shape your creative possibilities. When you select professional-grade oil paints, you’ll find sets containing over 24 unique colors spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary hues. This wider range grants you greater creative flexibility and the ability to mix an extensive variety of shades without limitations.
You’ll benefit from choosing sets that balance warm and cool tones, providing a full-spectrum palette for any subject matter. Professional-grade paints offer higher pigment loads and improved lightfastness compared to student alternatives, ensuring your work maintains vibrancy over time.
The mixing and blending capabilities of quality oil paints empower you to create custom tones tailored to your vision. Rather than relying solely on pre-mixed colors, you’ll develop a more nuanced and personalized approach to your artistic expression.
Set Size and Value
While a robust color range expands your artistic possibilities, you’ll also want to ponder how many tubes you actually need. Sets typically range from 8 to over 100 colors, but 24 to 48 tubes offer the sweet spot for most professionals—balancing versatility with practicality.
Larger sets deliver better value per color, making them economically sensible if you paint frequently. However, they demand considerable storage space, which matters if your studio’s cramped. Consider your painting style: detailed work benefits from extensive color selections, while minimal palettes suit those who favor mixing.
Your experience level and budget also guide this decision. Beginners might start smaller, while established artists often justify investing in extensive sets. Ultimately, choose what matches your creative workflow and financial capacity.
Surface Compatibility Options
Selecting the right painting surface matters just as much as choosing quality pigments, since different substrates’ll respond uniquely to oil paints. Canvas offers flexibility that allows natural paint movement, while wood provides rigid stability for detailed work. You’ll notice that surface porosity greatly affects how your paints blend and layer. Glass and paper present entirely different challenges due to their non-absorbent or highly absorbent properties respectively.
Before applying oils, you should prime your surface with gesso to improve adhesion and control paint behavior. This preparation step guarantees consistent results across various substrates. The texture of your chosen surface influences blending capabilities and final appearance. Consider your painting style and subject matter when selecting surfaces, as rigid materials suit precision work while flexible options encourage expressive techniques.
Safety and Toxicity Standards
Once you’ve prepared your surface and selected your substrate, ensuring the safety of your materials becomes the next priority in your painting practice. You’ll want to choose oil paints that conform to established safety standards like ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3, which certify products as non-toxic for both adults and children.
Toxic chemical exposure poses serious health risks, so verify that your paints carry safety certifications before purchasing. Check product labels for these designations—they’re your assurance that manufacturers’ve tested the formulations thoroughly. Professional-grade paints from reputable brands typically meet these standards, though you shouldn’t assume this without confirmation.
