PaintingProGuide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
A professional oil paint set should give you artist-grade paint: high pigment load, single pigments where possible, good lightfastness and a consistent body that handles predictably under the brush or knife. Many sets on Amazon use the word “professional” loosely. Only a few are made by brands that sell a recognized artist or extra-fine line, and those are the ones to buy if you want paintings that hold their color and mix cleanly for decades.
This guide separates genuine artist-grade sets from strong student sets and large value boxes, so you can decide whether you need professional paint now or a bigger palette to learn on first.
Quick answer: The Gamblin Artist Oil Colors Introductory Set is the best professional oil paint set for most painters: genuine artist-grade colors from an American oil paint maker in a well-chosen, compact palette. For portrait painters, the Charvin Extra Fine Bonjour Portrait set offers triple-milled, handmade paint in a dedicated portrait palette. If you want more colors to learn with at a lower tier, the Winsor & Newton Winton 20-tube set is a reliable student-grade alternative.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Gamblin Artist Oil Colors Introductory Set — Best overall professional oil paint set
- Charvin Extra Fine Bonjour Portrait Set — Best professional set for portraits
- Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Color Set (20 x 12 ml) — Best student-grade set from a professional brand
- Paul Rubens Oil Paint Set (40 x 50 ml) — Best large tubes for volume painting
- PHOENIX Studio Oil Paint Set (40 x 50 ml) — Best large-tube studio set
- MyArtscape Oil Paint Set (48 x 12 ml) — Best for trying many colors
- Magicfly Oil Paint Set (40 x 18 ml) — Best budget set with metallics
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamblin Artist Oil Introductory Set | Professional starting palette | 9 tubes, 37 ml | Artist-grade, made in USA | $$$ |
| Charvin Extra Fine Bonjour Portrait | Portrait painters | 9 x 20 ml, poppy and linseed binder | Triple-milled, handmade | $$$ |
| W&N Winton 20 Set | Serious beginners | 20 x 12 ml | Stiff, stroke-holding body | $$$ |
| Paul Rubens 40 Set | Volume and large canvases | 40 x 50 ml | Large tubes | $$$ |
| PHOENIX Studio 40 Set | Studio and classes | 40 x 50 ml | Thick, creamy consistency (listed) | $$$ |
| MyArtscape 48 Set | Exploring colors | 48 x 12 ml | Widest color range | $$ |
| Magicfly 40 Set | Budget and crafts | 40 x 18 ml, metallics | Extra white tubes | $$ |
How We Chose
These picks are based on the Amazon listing details and specifications for each set as checked in October 2026, how closely each set matches professional expectations for pigment, binder and consistency, and how widely each set is reviewed by Amazon buyers. We have not painted swatches or lightfastness tests with these paints; quality descriptions come from the listings and from the recognized grade of each brand’s line.
- Grade: artist or extra-fine lines ranked above student and value sets.
- Pigment information: named pigments and color lists where provided.
- Binder: linseed, poppy or safflower and what that means for drying and yellowing.
- Palette design: a set that mixes a full range rather than just many tubes.
- Tube size: enough paint to actually finish paintings.
Professional vs Student Oil Paint
Professional, or artist-grade, oil paint uses more pigment and less filler. Colors are usually made from single pigments or carefully chosen combinations, and expensive pigments such as cadmiums and cobalts are used rather than imitated. The result is stronger tinting, cleaner mixes and better lightfastness. Prices vary by pigment series.
Student-grade paint, such as Winton, substitutes “hue” versions for costly pigments and may contain more extender. It is still useful for learning, and well-made student paint from a serious brand can outperform no-name sets claiming to be professional. Large 40-color value boxes are best treated as practice paint unless the maker gives detailed pigment information.
A good compromise many painters use: professional paint for the colors you use most, especially white and your key mixing colors, and student paint for underpainting and studies.
Best Professional Oil Paint Sets Reviewed
1. Gamblin Artist Oil Colors Introductory Set — Best Overall Professional Set
Gamblin’s Artist Oil Colors are a recognized professional line made in the USA. The listing describes the set as pigment-rich, intense colors that last, produced sustainably. The details list nine tubes of 37 ml each.
An introductory set from an artist line is often a better investment than a large box of lower-grade paint, because a few well-chosen professional colors can mix almost everything you need. You learn color mixing with paint that behaves the way it will in finished work.
One oddity: a listing bullet mentions a birch wood panel, which may refer to packaging or an older bundle. Judge the set on its paint.
Best suited for: Painters ready to move to artist-grade oils, and beginners who want to learn on paint that will not hold them back.
Key features (from the listing):
- Gamblin Artist Oil Colors (professional line)
- 9 tubes, 37 ml each (listed)
- Pigment-rich colors
- Made in the USA
Pros:
- Genuine artist-grade paint
- Generous 37 ml tubes for a starter set
- From a dedicated oil paint maker
Cons and limitations:
- Fewer colors than value sets
- Exact colors not listed in the bullets
- Top tier
Buying consideration: Add a large tube of titanium white early. White is used more than any other color and runs out first.
2. Charvin Extra Fine Oil Paint Set, Bonjour Portrait Colors — Best Professional Set for Portraits
Charvin is a French maker of extra-fine oil paint. This set of nine 20 ml tubes is built around portrait colors. The listing highlights concentrated pigments that allow subtle, luminous glazes, triple-milled smooth texture, permanent and lightfast colors, and small-batch handmade production.
The binder is mainly poppy oil with linseed. Poppy dries more slowly and yellows less than linseed, which suits skin tones and pale passages, although it produces a softer film that benefits from sound layering.
Best suited for: Portrait and figure painters who want extra-fine paint with a palette tuned for skin.
Key features (from the listing):
- 9 x 20 ml tubes
- Extra-fine, triple-milled
- Poppy and linseed binder
- Permanent and lightfast (listed)
- Handmade in small batches
Pros:
- Exceptionally smooth paint
- Portrait-focused palette
- Low-yellowing binder for pale tones
Cons and limitations:
- Small tubes for the tier
- Slower drying than linseed paints
- Specialized palette
Buying consideration: Because poppy dries slowly and makes a softer film, keep heavy, thick layers to the final stages and avoid painting lean layers over it.
3. Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Color Set, 20 x 12 ml — Best Student-Grade Set from a Pro Brand
Winton is Winsor & Newton’s student oil range, and this set contains 20 starter colors. The listing says Winton has a more uniform, slightly stiffer consistency than the Artists’ range, with excellent retention of brush and knife strokes, and that the most permanent pigments have been selected where possible.
The color list includes titanium white, cadmium lemon hue, cadmium red deep hue, French ultramarine, phthalo blue, permanent rose and more. The “hue” names signal substitutes for costly pigments, which is normal for student paint.
Best suited for: Serious beginners who want a reliable brand and a broad starter palette before investing in artist-grade paint.
Key features (from the listing):
- 20 x 12 ml tubes
- Student range from Winsor & Newton
- Stiff consistency holds strokes
- Permanent pigments selected where possible (listed)
- Named color list
Pros:
- Trusted brand
- Clear color list
- Good body for impasto and knife work
Cons and limitations:
- Student grade, not professional
- Small tubes
- Hue colors are not true cadmiums
Buying consideration: When you upgrade, replace the colors you use most with artist-grade tubes and keep Winton for underpainting.
4. Paul Rubens Oil Paint Set, 40 x 50 ml — Best Large Tubes for Volume Painting
Paul Rubens sells 40 colors in large 50 ml tubes, a total of 2,000 ml of paint. The listing describes high pigmentation with good covering power and tinting strength, a creamy texture that blends easily, and high-purity linseed oil.
The brand does not publish pigment codes in this listing, so treat it as a strong value set for volume painting and practice rather than a documented artist line.
Best suited for: Painters who work large or paint frequently and need lots of paint.
Key features (from the listing):
- 40 x 50 ml tubes
- Linseed oil binder (listed)
- Creamy texture
- Non-toxic (listed)
Pros:
- Very generous volume
- Large tubes
- Wide color selection
Cons and limitations:
- Pigment details not listed
- Professional claim is the maker’s
- Many colors duplicate mixable hues
Buying consideration: Use it for large studies and underpaintings, and compare a few colors against an artist-grade tube to judge strength.
5. PHOENIX Studio Oil Paint Set, 40 x 50 ml — Best Large-Tube Studio Set
PHOENIX’s studio set offers 40 colors in 50 ml tubes. The listing claims high color saturation, strong tinting strength, great lightfastness and permanence, finely ground pigments and a thick, creamy consistency that can be used directly for texture or blended with medium.
It is certified to EN 71 and ASTM D-4236. The listing itself positions the set for beginners, amateurs, classes and paint parties, which is a more honest guide to its grade than the “professional” label.
Best suited for: Studios, classes and painters who want a large, consistent set for regular practice.
Key features (from the listing):
- 40 x 50 ml tubes
- Thick, creamy consistency
- EN 71 and ASTM D-4236
- Lightfast claims (listed)
Pros:
- Large tubes
- Good for classes
- Thick body for texture
Cons and limitations:
- Positioned for beginners by the maker
- Pigment details not listed
- Top tier because of volume
Buying consideration: For groups, buy the large set and supplement with extra white rather than buying multiple boxes.
6. MyArtscape Oil Paint Set, 48 x 12 ml — Best for Trying Many Colors
MyArtscape’s 48 colors in 12 ml tubes are the widest range here. The listing describes artist-quality colors, a traditional high-sheen finish, and lightfast, fade-resistant paint.
Small tubes and many colors make this a good way to explore convenience colors before deciding which ones to buy in artist grade.
Best suited for: Learners who want to experiment with a broad color range.
Key features (from the listing):
- 48 x 12 ml tubes
- High-sheen finish (listed)
- Lightfast claims (listed)
- For canvas, pads, boards and paper
Pros:
- Widest color range
- Small tubes reduce waste
- Mid tier
Cons and limitations:
- Small tubes run out fast
- Pigment details not listed
- Many colors overlap
Buying consideration: Note which colors you use up first; those are the ones to buy in professional grade later.
7. Magicfly Oil Paint Set, 40 x 18 ml — Best Budget Set with Metallics
Magicfly includes 40 colors in 18 ml tubes, including metallic gold and silver, plus two extra white tubes. The listing describes richly pigmented, thick and creamy paint conforming to ASTM D-4236.
It is a budget set best suited to practice, décor painting and gifts rather than professional work.
Best suited for: Hobbyists, gift buyers and painters who want metallics for decorative work.
Key features (from the listing):
- 40 x 18 ml tubes
- Metallic gold and silver
- 2 extra white tubes
- ASTM D-4236
Pros:
- Low tier
- Extra whites
- Metallics included
Cons and limitations:
- Not a professional line
- Pigment details not listed
- Quality varies by color
Buying consideration: Use it for learning brush handling and color mixing, and expect to upgrade for serious work.
Building a Professional Palette from Any Set
Even with an artist-grade set, you do not need every color. A classic limited palette, such as titanium white, a warm and cool yellow, a warm and cool red, a warm and cool blue, plus an earth such as burnt umber or yellow ochre, mixes almost anything. Start with that, learn the mixtures, then add convenience colors you find yourself mixing repeatedly.
White deserves special attention. It forms a large part of most mixtures, so buy a big tube of a good titanium white. Some painters use a faster-drying flake or lead-free alternative for underlayers and titanium for final layers.
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Professional Oil Paint Set
Check the brand’s grade
Look for a recognized artist or extra-fine line from the maker. Student lines are clearly named by serious brands; value sets often call themselves professional without supporting detail.
Look for pigment information
Professional paints usually state pigment codes and lightfastness ratings on the tube. Listings that name colors but not pigments make comparison harder.
Consider the binder
Linseed oil dries faster and forms a strong film but yellows slightly. Poppy and safflower yellow less and dry more slowly. Mixed binders are common.
Prioritize tube size over color count
Nine 37 ml tubes of artist paint will go further than 48 tiny tubes. Large tubes matter most for white and key mixing colors.
Think about consistency
Stiff paint holds strokes and knife marks; softer paint blends and glazes easily. Choose based on your style.
Plan for additions
No set is complete. Budget for an extra white and one or two colors that suit your subjects.
Use Oils on Different Surfaces
Once you have paint, try it on more than canvas. Our guides explain how to use oil paint on paper with the right preparation, and how to use oil paint on wood for rigid panels. Curious about solid oils? Read how to use oil paint sticks. For practice subjects, try our tutorial on painting fog in oil.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a huge set of low-grade paint and expecting professional results.
- Running out of white halfway through a painting.
- Assuming “hue” colors behave exactly like the pigments they imitate.
- Ignoring binder differences when layering fast and slow-drying paints.
- Using too many convenience colors instead of learning to mix.
- Painting lean over fat with slow-drying poppy-based paints.
FAQs
What is the best professional oil paint set?
Gamblin Artist Oil Colors Introductory Set is a strong choice because it uses a recognized professional line in useful tube sizes. Charvin Extra Fine is excellent for portrait painters.
Is Winsor & Newton Winton professional paint?
No. Winton is Winsor & Newton’s student range. It is good quality for learning, but the Artists’ Oil Colour line is the professional range.
Are 40-color oil paint sets worth it?
They are good for practice and exploring colors, but most do not provide the pigment information of artist lines. A smaller set of artist-grade paint usually mixes better.
What colors should a professional oil palette include?
A warm and cool version of each primary, titanium white and an earth color or two cover most needs. Add convenience colors as you identify them.
What is the difference between linseed and poppy oil paint?
Linseed dries faster and forms a stronger film but yellows slightly. Poppy dries slowly and yellows less, which suits pale colors.
Should beginners buy professional oil paint?
Many teachers recommend a few professional colors over a large student set, because better pigment makes mixing easier. A student set is fine if budget is tight.
Final Recommendation
If you want genuine professional paint, buy the Gamblin Artist Oil Introductory Set, or the Charvin Bonjour Portrait set if you paint people. If you are still learning and want more colors, the Winsor & Newton Winton set is the most trustworthy student option. Paul Rubens and PHOENIX large-tube sets suit volume painting and classes, while MyArtscape and Magicfly are budget sets for exploration and decorative work.
One Comment