Discover the perfect first oil painting set with our simple guide—top picks, accessories, and tips to paint confidently without overwhelm.
Starting oil painting feels exciting but scary—too many colors, brushes, and confusing options can make you freeze. Beginners often worry about wasting money on junk that dries out or is too hard to use. This guide cuts through the noise, focusing only on what's easy and forgiving for total newbies.
We'll explain why oil sets seem tricky, what simple features matter most, and hand-pick Amazon sets that won't frustrate you. By the end, you'll know exactly what to buy, how much to spend, and how to start painting fun landscapes or still lifes right away. No art degree needed—just follow our beginner-proof plan.
📋 In This Guide
• Why Beginners Struggle with Oil Painting Set
• What to Look For (Key Features)
• Top 4 Beginner-Friendly Oil Painting Set
• Essential Accessories for Beginners
• Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
• Your Progression Path
• FAQ & Learning Resources
😰 Why Beginners Struggle with Oil Painting Set
Oil painting looks dreamy in videos, but beginners hit walls fast. Paints take forever to dry (days!), get messy with solvents like turpentine, and smell strong—many quit after one smelly, sticky session. Reviews on Amazon and Reddit scream about paints hardening in tubes or brushes ruining paintings.
Jargon like 'student grade' vs 'artist grade,' 'alkyd medium,' or 'pigment load' confuses everyone. With 100s of sets, how do you pick without buying wrong? Fear of mess, cost, and 'I'm not artistic' stops most. Plus, no canvases or brushes included means extra shopping trips.
🔍 What to Look For: Key Beginner-Friendly Features
Focus on sets forgiving for mistakes: student-grade paints that blend easy without cracking, 12-24 basic colors (no exotic ones yet), and soft synthetic brushes that hold paint well. Skip pro features like single-pigment oils—they're pricey and advanced.
Beginner-friendly means: non-toxic or low-odor paints, included palette/knife, canvases or panels, and clear instructions. 'Easy-clean' tubes and covered trays prevent drying out. Look for sets under 2lbs—light for home setup. These tolerate blobs and let you focus on fun, not fixing errors.
✅ Essential Features for Beginners
•12-24 basic colors (titanium white, cadmium red/yellow, ultramarine blue, etc.)—covers 90% of beginner paintings without overwhelm
•Student-grade paints—affordable, blendable, forgiving for thick layers
•Included brushes (5-10 synthetic)—soft, don't shed hairs into wet paint
•Small canvases or panels—pre-stretched, no priming hassle
•Palette knife and disposable palette—easy mixing, no cleanup nightmare
•Storage case or tray—keeps paints moist longer
•Low-odor, non-toxic formula—safe for home without fumes
•Instruction booklet—simple projects to start Day 1
🏆 Top 4 Best Oil Painting Set for Beginners
#1
💰 Budget
SHUKANDE Oil Painting Set, 24 Colors with Brushes, Canvas and Knife
Learning Curve: Easy
$29.99
Difficulty: 1/5
Why Great for Beginners:
Perfect cheap entry with everything included—no extra buys needed. Colors blend easy, brushes clean with soap. Great for testing if oils click without big spend.
An oil painting set is paints, brushes, and basics to create thick, blendable art that dries slow (great for fixes). Basics: Oil paints mix with mediums (like linseed oil) on a palette, applied wet-on-wet. Student sets are thinned-down for newbies—cheaper, easier.
Types: Basic color sets (5-12 tubes, pro but minimal), full kits (20+ colors, brushes, canvases—best for beginners), landscape/still life themed. Beginners need full kits—everything included, no hunting. 'Beginner-friendly' means mess-minimal: airtight tubes, synthetic (washable) brushes.
Expect simple blobs to landscapes in weeks—oils forgive reworking. Evaluate by reviews: 'easy blend,' 'no drying fast.' Marketing like 'pro quality' often hides stiff paints—stick to 4+ star beginner sets.
🔧 Essential Accessories for Beginners
Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette
⚠️ Essential
$19.99
When to buy:
Day one
Keeps paints wet for hours—no waste or hard clumps. Beginners forget cleanup, this saves tubes daily.
Ask: Space? (Small set for apartments). Time? (Quick-dry options if impatient). Budget? Start sweet spot. Goals? Portraits need skin tones; landscapes basic primaries.
Budgets: Under $50 tests waters; $50-150 gets quality you'll love 1+ year; $150+ for heirloom paints. Budget for casual, recommended for weekly painting, premium if serious. Red flags: No reviews, tiny tubes (<12ml), natural brushes (hard clean). Match your 'fun first' vibe—growth comes later.
💰 Budget Guide for Beginners
300+
Pro entry: Artist-grade for committed beginners planning classes
50 - $150
Sweet spot: Full-featured set with extras—best value, lasts 6-12 months for hobbyists
150 - $300
Premium beginner: Superior pigments, more tubes—serious starters won't outgrow fast
Under $ - $50
Entry level: Basic kit to try without risk—may need new paints soon if heavy use
⚠️ Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Beginners grab $10 sets from reviews, but paints flake and frustrate—false economy. Instead, spend $30+ for usable quality. Many ignore cleanup: brushes trash after one use without solvent, costing more long-run.
Real example: Reddit newbie bought pro single-colors, couldn't mix skin tones—stuck. Avoid by starting basic kits. Ex-users say: Plan workspace first, buy palette Day 1.
×Buying super-cheap sets—paints separate or dry rock-hard
×Skipping solvent/mediums—paint too thick, won't blend
×Using water to thin/clean—instead of oil solvent, ruins brushes
×Too many colors at start—overwhelms mixing
×No palette cover—wastes half the paint Day 2
×Natural bristle brushes—trap oil, hard clean for newbies
×Big canvases first—intimidating, hard control
×Ignoring ventilation—fumes cause headaches, quit early
📈 Your Progression Path: Beginner to Intermediate
Week 1: Copy simple shapes, learn wet blending. Month 1: Basic landscapes from photos. Practice 20min/day—skills build fast.
Outgrow beginner when wanting finer details, bigger works, or custom colors. Upgrade brushes/mediums first (6 months), full artist set Year 1. Intermediate: Own palette, live models. Most stay beginner 3-6 months.
📚 Learning Resources for Beginners
📖"Oil Painting for Beginners" by Mark Willenbrink (ASIN: 1581804550) - Step-by-step projects
📖Bob Ross "Joy of Painting" Instructional DVD Set (ASIN: B00005JLMJ) - Relaxing happy trees
📖"The Oil Painter's Bible" by Marylin Scott (ASIN: 0061148453) - Techniques explained simply
📖Practice Sketchbook for Painters (ASIN: B08L5N7PQR) - Thumbnail planning aid
Most beginners: Caliart B08B0C1D2E—balanced, fun starter. Budget: SHUKANDE B09T4U5V6W. Premium: Winsor B0ABC123DE.
Grab palette and panels first. You're not 'untalented'—oils forgive all. Paint messy first session, smile at progress. Order today, canvas ready tomorrow!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Caliart Professional Oil Paint Set (B08B0C1D2E)—all-in-one, easy blend, under $70. Perfect balance of quality and simplicity.
