Top 11 Best Oil Paint in 2024

best oil paints for beginners

Here's a list of the best oil paints for you, no matter if you're an experienced artist or a beginner.

I've looked at what other artists like and what I like and included the best options in this list of 11 best oil paint brands.

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What is the Best Oil Paint?

1. Winsor & Newton

(4.8/5)

Winsor & Newton is known for their high-quality pigments and smooth texture. It is a great option for both beginners and professionals. 

Winsor & Newton has a great color range when it comes to their oil paints and the quality is better than most other brands. The paint is easy to work with and suitable for all oil painting techniques. 

Overall it's a great choice for beginners as well as professional oil painters.

+ Good color range, consistent quality, and known for their professional series.

- The price is a bit on the higher side, especially the professional series

2. Rembrandt

(4.2/5)

Produced by Royal Talens, Rembrandt oil paints are known for their high pigment concentration and smooth consistency.

Rembrandt oil paint is one of the most rich and vibrant colored paint I've used so far. It has a smooth and softer-than-usual consistency that makes it easy to work with and mix colors, and the quality of the paint is great.

It's a great and reasonably priced option.

+ Rich colors, smooth texture, and reasonably priced.

- Some artists may find them a bit softer than other brands which makes them unsuitable for some techniques.

3. Old Holland

(4.5/5)

Old Holland is one of the oldest paint manufacturers, known for producing high-quality, professional-grade oil paints.

This paint is the most pigmented of all paints I've tried. The colors are intense and lightfast, making your painting stand the test of time.

+ Extremely high pigment load, lightfastness, and a wide range of colors.

- Expensive, making it less suitable for beginners or people on a tighter budget.

4. Gamblin

(4.5/5)

Gamblin is recognized for its commitment to producing environmentally friendly oil paints without compromising on quality. 

It's a great option if you care a lot about the environment and your impact on it. The colors are true to their appearance and the price is not too bad.

The consistency is a bit different than most other brands, but they still work perfectly fine for any technique.

+ Good color range, moderate price, and a focus on sustainability.

- Some artists find the consistency a bit different.

5. Michael Harding

(5/5)

Michael Harding is known for handmaking small batches of high-quality oil paints using traditional methods.

The paint is very vibrant and rich in color which I like. I also really like the fact that they are handmade using traditional methods, but this also makes them a lot more expensive than other brands.

If you're a paint nerd then this is the perfect paint for you.

+Vibrant colors, excellent pigment load, and a focus on traditional craftsmanship. 

- High-end pricing.

6. Sennelier

(4.3/5)

A French brand with a long history, Sennelier offers a range of oil paints known for their smooth texture and luminosity.

The consistency is kind of buttery which works well for me, but it can be a bit too soft for impasto techniques. Sennelier oil paints also come in plenty of colors to choose from.

+ Good color saturation, smooth consistency, and a wide variety of colors.

- A bit too soft for impasto techniques.

7. Williamsburg

(4.6/5)

Williamsburg is recognized for its artisanal approach, producing small batches of handmade oil paints with high pigment concentrations.

Williamsburg oil paint has a smooth consistency and the colors appear very opaque and vibrant.

+Rich pigments, smooth consistency, and a commitment to quality. 

- Higher price point.

8. Holbein

(4.1/5)

Holbein is a Japanese brand known for its quality oil paints, catering to both professional and amateur artists.

Holbein offers a great balance between quality and affordability. They offer good paint that is easy to work with and it's also quite pigmented.

+ High pigment load, good consistency, and reasonable pricing.

- Availability can be limited in some regions.

9. Schmincke Mussini

(4.9/5)

Schmincke Mussini is a German brand that produces high-quality, resin-oil-based oil paints.

This resin-oil-based paint has some unique qualities. It also has a great drying time and very vibrant colors.

This paint is great if you're willing to invest in some quality oil paints.

+ Vibrant colors, good drying time, and a range of unique hues.

- Relatively high price.

10. M. Graham

(4.5/5)

M. Graham is known for its walnut oil-based oil paints, offering a great alternative for artists who are sensitive to traditional linseed oil.

M. Graham oil paint has a nice smooth texture and they appear very pigmented. However, I find the color selection a little bit limited.

+ Smooth texture, high pigment load, and an environmentally friendly approach.

- Limited color range compared to some other brands.

11. Bob Ross

(4/5)

The Bob Ross brand, synonymous with the "Joy of Painting" series, offers wet-on-wet oil paints tailored for beginners, aiming to replicate Ross's distinctive style.

+ Designed for beginners, comes in all-in-one kits, and is easy to blend.

- Limited color range, and works best with Bob Ross' specific style.

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