An artist is only as good as their tools, and for artists at any level, having the best oil paints is vital to ensure creative visions can come to life.
With so many options out there, we've looked at all of the biggest contenders and whittled down the selection to a more manageable list you'll find below. To do so, we looked at the composition of the paints from pigments to oils, stabilisers, fillers and driers, as well as the color variety on offer.
It's a good idea to use a wooden or metal easel when painting in oils, so check out our guide featuring the best art easels. You might also take a look at our picks of the best oil paint supplies and the best canvas for oils. Once you're stocked up, check out these essential painting techniques. Meanwhile, here are the best oil paints on offer today.
The best oil paint
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The best oil paint to balance high quality with cost
+ High quality
+ No fillers
- Smaller range
- Pricey
The richness and texture make these paints a delight, and the consistency flows well. While the feel varies slightly between colours, with some 'stiffer' browns, this is standard in highly pigmented paints. The colour range is smaller than some but has the most useful pigments and a variety of whites.
The best oil paint for a wide variety of quality earth colours
+ Excellent range
+ Unique colours
+ Good consistency
- Pricey
- Small tubes
- Texture varies
Boasting a large range of professional-grade oil paints, Williamsburg offers an excellent selection of unique earth colours. The texture can vary, but is generally rich and smooth, sometimes with a slight, gritty bite. Colours are intense and high-coverage, and the quality and light-fastness of the pigment is excellent.
The best oil paint for high quality with ethical standards
+ High quality
+ Eco-friendly
- Variable consistency
Gamblin's paints include traditional and modern colours, plus convenience mixtures. These can have a variable consistency, which is normal in high-quality paints, but earths can be particularly 'stiff' and matte. Gamblin is particularly conscious of high health and environmental standards, and recycles pigment from its filtration systems to reduce pollution.
The best oil paint based on overall quality and pigment content
+ High quality
+ Large range
- Very expensive
- Variable quality
- Cheaper pigments
Old Holland produces intense, high-quality oil paint spanning a wide range of colours and convenience mixtures with artist-quality pigments, but there are a few containing cheaper pigments. These paints feel pleasantly dense but tend to need extra medium to flow smoothly. Consequently, they go a long way with good coverage.
The best oil paint range for students and beginners
+ Good quality
+ High permanence
- Cheaper pigments
- Smaller range
Winton is an excellent starting point for trying out oil paints. For a student range, the quality of paint is good, with reasonably good colour and consistent texture, but it's a relatively small selection. The pigments in this range have a high permanence as well, so your paintings will last.
