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There comes a point when a child stops wanting to “do painting” and starts wanting to paint something well: a pet that actually looks like the pet, a sunset with a smooth gradient, a portrait with shadows. That is when a basic washable set starts to hold them back. The best advanced paint sets for kids give them what a beginner painter needs: a real medium (usually acrylic or a full watercolor palette), canvases and pads to practice on, a range of brush shapes, and an easel so they can step back and judge their work.
“Advanced” here does not mean professional-grade. It means the next step up for a child who has outgrown toddler paint, typically around 8 to 14. We chose six sets that support that step in different ways, and added a short progression plan so the set leads somewhere.
Quick answer: For most kids ready to level up, the Shuttle Art 69-piece kids paint set is the strongest choice: 30 acrylics, 19 brushes, 7 blank and 7 themed canvases, a 16-sheet acrylic pad and a wood easel. For a tidier, more grown-up kit, the LEYEDZ acrylic set adds 24 colors, canvases, an easel and a wash cup. For kids who prefer watercolor, the Blablaovy 48-color watercolor set includes a water brush pen for control.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Shuttle Art 69 Pack Kids Paint Set — Best overall advanced kit for kids
- LEYEDZ Acrylic Paint Set with Canvas — Best clean, grown-up acrylic kit
- Inburit Acrylic Paint Set with Canvas — Best for practicing on pad and canvas
- Falling in Art Kids Tabletop Easel Set — Best mixed-media studio box
- Blablaovy 48-Color Watercolor Set — Best for advancing in watercolor
- Jar Melo Kids Tempera Painting Set — Best bridge from washable to artist paint
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle Art 69 pcs | Ages 8 to 14 | 30 acrylics, 19 brushes, 14 canvases, pad, easel | Blank and guided canvases | $$ |
| LEYEDZ Set | Ages 9+ | 24 acrylics, 8 brushes, 5 canvases, easel, wash cup | Complete, tidy kit | $$ |
| Inburit Set | Ages 8+ | 18 acrylics, 8 brushes, 5 canvases, 15-sheet pad | Pad for practice | $$ |
| Falling in Art Easel Set | Mixed media | Easel box, 12 acrylics, pencils, 4 canvases, pad | Portable studio | $$$ |
| Blablaovy 48 Watercolor | Watercolor learners | 48 colors, brushes, water pen | Large palette, low cost | $ |
| Jar Melo Tempera | Ages 4 to 8 | 24 tempera colors, bucket palette | Washable with real color | $$ |
How We Chose
We have not tested these kits with our own children. The picks are based on the Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, how well each set supports a child moving beyond basic painting, and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers. Contents and safety claims are as listed by the sellers.
- Real medium: acrylic or a full watercolor palette that allows blending, layering and detail.
- Practice surfaces: canvases plus pads, so children can practice before committing.
- Brush range: multiple sizes and shapes to learn different marks.
- Easel: painting upright helps children judge proportion and step back.
- Room to grow: more colors and materials than a basic kit, without professional complexity.
Best Advanced Paint Sets for Kids Reviewed
1. Shuttle Art 69 Pack Kids Paint Set — Best for an all-round advanced kit
Shuttle Art’s 69-piece set is built around progression. The listing includes a wood table easel, 30 acrylic colors (12 ml each), 7 blank 8×10 canvases, 7 themed 8×10 canvases with outlines, a size M smock, a 16-sheet 8×10 acrylic painting pad, 19 brushes, a palette, a water bucket and a storage bag.
The themed canvases help a child practice color, blending and brush control within a structure; the blank canvases and pad are where they apply those skills to their own ideas. Nineteen brushes is unusually generous for a kids’ kit and covers the shapes a young painter needs to learn.
The listing states conformance to ASTM D-4236 and EN71, non-toxic and acid-free, and says the paints are washable from skin and other surfaces.
Best suited for: Kids about 8 to 14 moving from craft painting to picture painting.
Key features:
- 30 acrylic colors, 12 ml
- 19 brushes, palette, water bucket
- 7 blank + 7 themed canvases (8×10), 16-sheet acrylic pad
- Wood table easel, smock, storage bag
Pros:
- Guided and blank canvases
- Generous brush count
- Easel and smock included
- Stated safety standards
Cons and limitations:
- Small 12 ml tubes run out with big projects
- Themed canvases may feel young for teens
- Mid price tier
Buying consideration: Start with a themed canvas to learn blending, then paint the same subject on a blank canvas from memory.
2. LEYEDZ Acrylic Paint Set with Canvas — Best for a clean, grown-up acrylic kit
LEYEDZ includes 24 acrylic paints, 8 brushes, 5 canvas panels, a tabletop easel, a palette, a wash cup and a cleaning cloth, per the listing. It is aimed at kids, students and adult hobbyists.
The appeal for an older child is that it looks and feels like an adult beginner’s kit rather than a toy. The wash cup and cleaning cloth also encourage good studio habits, such as rinsing brushes between colors.
Twenty-four colors gives enough range for mixing without overwhelming.
Best suited for: Tweens and young teens who want a “real” acrylic kit.
Key features:
- 24 acrylic paints
- 8 brushes
- 5 canvas panels
- Tabletop easel, palette, wash cup, cleaning cloth
Pros:
- Grown-up presentation
- Good color count
- Encourages clean habits
- Complete setup
Cons and limitations:
- Only 8 brushes
- Five canvases
- Acrylic permanent on fabric
Buying consideration: Add a smock; this kit does not include one.
3. Inburit Acrylic Paint Set with Canvas — Best for practicing on pad and canvas
Inburit’s kit includes 18 acrylic colors, 8 assorted brushes, five 8×10 canvas panels, a 15-sheet painting pad, a plastic palette and a multifunctional tabletop easel, per the listing.
The 15-sheet pad is the advanced-learner feature here. A child can do warm-up exercises, color charts and composition sketches on paper, then paint the finished version on canvas. That is how artists actually work.
Eighteen colors is fewer than the Shuttle Art and LEYEDZ kits, which can be a benefit: it pushes kids to mix.
Best suited for: Kids 8 and up who are motivated to practice.
Key features:
- 18 acrylic colors
- 8 brushes
- 5 canvases (8×10), 15-sheet pad
- Palette and tabletop easel
Pros:
- Pad for exercises
- Encourages color mixing
- Gift-ready
- Complete kit
Cons and limitations:
- Fewer colors
- Modest brush count
- No smock
Buying consideration: Have the child paint a simple color wheel on the first page of the pad; it makes mixing far easier later.
4. Falling in Art Kids Tabletop Easel Set — Best for a mixed-media studio box
Falling in Art combines an easel and storage box with 12 colored pencils, 12 acrylic paints, 10 brushes, 4 canvases, a palette, a watercolor pad and an apron, per the listing. It is designed to be carried as a portable studio.
Advanced young artists often sketch before painting. Having pencils, a pad and paint in one portable easel box supports that workflow, at home or on a trip.
Paint quantity is lower than dedicated acrylic sets, so treat this as a studio and add paint as needed.
Best suited for: Kids who like to sketch, plan and paint, and families who travel.
Key features:
- Tabletop easel with storage
- 12 acrylic paints, 12 colored pencils
- 10 brushes, palette
- 4 canvases, watercolor pad, apron
Pros:
- Portable studio
- Sketch-to-paint workflow
- Apron included
- Organized storage
Cons and limitations:
- Higher price tier
- Only 12 paint colors
- Fewer canvases
Buying consideration: Use the pencils for an underdrawing on canvas, then paint over it; it is a big step toward realistic work.
5. Blablaovy 48-Color Watercolor Set — Best for advancing in watercolor
Blablaovy’s set includes 48 watercolor colors (the listing mentions 42 unique colors), 2 paint brushes and 1 water pen in a lightweight plastic box with a removable cover. The listing describes finely ground pigments that dissolve easily and do not crack.
Watercolor is a demanding medium that rewards older kids with patience. Forty-eight colors allow subtle landscapes and illustrations, and a water pen gives far more control than a cup and brush.
It is in the lowest price tier, which makes it an easy addition to any acrylic kit.
Best suited for: Kids about 8 and up who love illustration, nature painting or travel sketching.
Key features:
- 48 watercolor pans
- 2 brushes, 1 water brush pen
- Portable plastic box
- Removable cover
Pros:
- Big palette for low cost
- Water pen improves control
- Portable
- Quick cleanup
Cons and limitations:
- Needs watercolor paper
- Student-grade pigments
- Few brushes
Buying consideration: Buy a pad of 140 lb watercolor paper; it is the single biggest upgrade for kids’ watercolor.
6. Jar Melo Kids Tempera Painting Set — Best for bridging from washable to artist paint
Jar Melo’s set includes 24 tempera colors (15 ml each) with 3 brushes, a palette, a storage bucket and a wash bucket, per the listing. The bucket lid flips into a palette and the base doubles as a rinse cup. The tempera is washable from skin and clothes with soap and water.
For younger kids around 6 to 8 who are ready for more colors and better coverage but not acrylic, this is the bridge. The listing says the high-pigment formula is brighter and less watery than typical kids’ paint.
The listing targets ages 4 to 8, so it suits the younger end of advancing painters.
Best suited for: Younger kids, roughly 6 to 8, who have outgrown basic washable sets.
Key features:
- 24 tempera colors, 15 ml
- 3 brushes
- Bucket with palette lid and rinse base
- Washable
Pros:
- Washable but vivid
- Clever all-in-one bucket
- Portable
- Good color range
Cons and limitations:
- Tempera does not layer like acrylic
- Only 3 brushes
- Aimed at younger kids
Buying consideration: Introduce simple blending with tempera before moving to acrylic; the skills transfer directly.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Advanced Paint Sets for Kids
Signs your child is ready
They ask how to make colors look real, they want to paint specific subjects, they get frustrated with runny or chalky paint, or they spend long stretches on one picture.
Pick the medium
Acrylic is the most flexible: it layers, corrects easily and works on canvas. Watercolor teaches control and suits illustration. Tempera is a washable bridge for younger kids.
Insist on practice surfaces
Pads and spare canvases matter. Children improve by repeating, and they repeat more when surfaces are plentiful.
Look for brush variety
At minimum: a large flat, a medium round, a small detail brush and a filbert or fan. Kits with 10 or more brushes usually cover these.
Get an easel
Painting upright improves proportion and lets kids step back. Tabletop easels are enough.
Plan to top up
Advanced painters use white and primary colors fastest. Buy larger tubes or bottles of those, and extra canvas panels, so the kit keeps going after the included surfaces are used up.
Teach Brush and Paint Care Early
Advanced kits come with better brushes, and the fastest way to waste them is poor cleanup. A few habits, taught in the first week, keep a kit working for months.
- Rinse often. Swish brushes in water every time the color changes, and never let acrylic dry on the bristles.
- Do not leave brushes standing in water. It bends the tips and loosens the handles.
- Wash with soap at the end. A little mild soap in the palm, worked gently into the bristles, removes the last paint near the ferrule.
- Reshape and dry flat. Pinch the tip back into shape and lay brushes flat or tip-up to dry.
- Close every cap. Small tubes dry out quickly if left open.
- Use a palette, not the lid. Squeezing paint onto the palette keeps tubes clean and caps sealing properly.
Children who learn these habits also learn that their materials are worth looking after, which is part of taking art seriously.
A Simple Progression Plan
Weeks 1 to 2: color. Paint a color wheel and value scale (light to dark) on the pad. Mix greens, oranges and purples from primaries.
Weeks 3 to 4: brushes. Fill a page with marks from each brush: flat strokes, round dots, dry-brush texture and fine lines.
Weeks 5 to 6: blending. Paint gradient skies and simple spheres with light and shadow.
Weeks 7 to 8: composition. Sketch three thumbnail designs, choose one and paint it on canvas.
Simple subjects help at each stage. Try an easy dinosaur for shapes and color blocking, a ladybug for round forms and highlights, and painted rock critters for detail work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Jumping to professional supplies. Expensive paint will not fix technique and can intimidate.
- Too many colors. Kids learn more by mixing from a limited palette.
- No practice paper. Every painting becomes high-pressure on canvas.
- Ignoring brush care. Acrylic ruins brushes if it dries in them.
- Painting flat on a table only. An easel improves proportion and posture.
- Correcting their work. Ask questions instead: “Where is the light coming from?”
FAQs
What is a good advanced paint set for a 10-year-old?
A complete acrylic kit with 20 to 30 colors, a range of brushes, several canvases, a practice pad and an easel. The Shuttle Art 69-piece and LEYEDZ kits fit that description.
Should older kids use acrylic or watercolor?
Both are good. Acrylic is more forgiving and versatile; watercolor teaches control and suits illustration. Many children enjoy having both.
Are kids acrylic paints different from adult acrylics?
Kids’ and beginner acrylics are usually student grade with stated non-toxic conformance. Professional acrylics have higher pigment loads and cost more.
How many brushes does an advanced kid painter need?
Around 8 to 12 in different shapes and sizes, including at least one large flat, one detail round and one filbert or fan.
Does a child need an easel?
It is not essential but helps a lot. Painting upright makes it easier to see proportions and step back to judge the work.
When should a child move to professional paints?
When they paint regularly, understand mixing and brush care, and want stronger color or specific effects. Usually in the teen years.
Final Recommendation
For most children ready to move beyond basic painting, the Shuttle Art 69-piece set offers the best mix of guided and free canvases, brushes and an easel. Tweens who want a more grown-up kit should choose LEYEDZ, and self-motivated learners will benefit from Inburit’s practice pad.
Falling in Art’s easel box suits kids who sketch before they paint, Blablaovy’s 48-color set is the easy watercolor upgrade, and Jar Melo’s tempera bucket is the right bridge for younger kids not yet ready for acrylic.
