PaintingProGuide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Tubes of color are the easy part. What separates a frustrating oil session from a productive one is everything around the paint: a clean solvent for thinning and rinsing, brushes with enough shapes to block in and refine, a knife for mixing, a safe way to wash out, and somewhere to keep mixed piles from skinning over. The best oil painting supplies for artists are the unglamorous studio tools that make every tube you own perform better and every session cost less.
Quick answer: Start with Gamblin Gamsol odorless mineral spirits as your studio solvent, then add the Fuumuui 25-piece brush set for a full range of shapes and the CONDA five-piece palette knife set for mixing. If you are starting from zero and want paint, easels and brushes in one box, the ESRICH 141-piece deluxe set covers the basics, though serious oil work will outgrow its included tubes.
Below you will find seven supplies that build a working oil studio, a comparison table, the criteria behind each pick, and a buying guide that explains what to prioritize when budget is limited.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Gamblin Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits, 16.9 oz — Best studio solvent
- Fuumuui 25pcs Paint Brush Set, 9 Shapes — Best brush range for one purchase
- CONDA Palette Knife Set, 5 Pieces — Best for mixing and knife painting
- MyLifeUNIT Stainless Steel Brush Cleaner — Best for safe brush washing
- Masterson Palette Seal, 12 x 16 in — Best for saving mixed paint between sessions
- Bellisinno Odorless Mineral Spirits, 100 ml — Best small solvent bottle for trying oils
- ESRICH 141PCS Deluxe Painting Set — Best all-in-one starter kit
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamblin Gamsol | Thinning and brush rinsing | 16.9 oz (500 ml) | Odorless, artist-grade solvent | $$ |
| Fuumuui 25pcs | Building a brush kit | 24 brushes in 9 shapes plus knife and canvas roll | Shape variety | $$ |
| CONDA 5 knives | Mixing and impasto | 5 standard stainless knife styles | Low-cost tool for clean mixes | $ |
| MyLifeUNIT washer | Brush cleaning | 10 oz stainless, sealing ring, filter | Contains solvent, limits fumes | $ |
| Masterson Palette Seal | Storing mixed color | 12 x 16 in tray and lid | Fits full-size studio palettes | $$ |
| Bellisinno OMS | Trial and small kits | 100 ml bottle | Easy entry size | $ |
| ESRICH 141PCS | Complete beginners | 84 paints across oil, acrylic, watercolor; two easels | Everything in one box | $$$ |
How We Chose
These picks are based on the Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, how well each item fits a real oil painting workflow, and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers. We have not used these specific products in a studio, so we describe what the listings state and what is well established about oil painting practice, and leave out anything we cannot support.
Criteria we weighed:
- Role in the workflow: each pick solves a distinct job: thinning, applying, mixing, cleaning or storing.
- Safety: odorless solvents and sealed containers reduce fumes in small rooms.
- Range: brush and knife sets should cover several shapes so you are not buying single brushes for months.
- Durability: stainless steel, crimped ferrules and solid lids matter for tools that touch solvent daily.
- Value over time: a palette seal or brush washer pays for itself by saving paint and brushes.
Best Oil Painting Supplies for Artists Reviewed
1. Gamblin Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits, 16.9 oz — Best for studio solvent
Gamsol is the solvent many oil painters standardize on because it does the two jobs you need every session: thinning paint and mediums for early layers, and rinsing brushes. Gamblin positions it as safer for painters, paintings and the environment than turpentine and harsh mineral spirits, and the listing calls it non-toxic and environmentally friendly in its product details.
The 16.9 oz (500 ml) size suits a home studio. Used in a sealed brush washer and recycled by letting pigment settle, a bottle this size lasts a long time. As with any solvent, odorless does not mean fume-free, so keep a window open or a fan running.
Best suited for: Any oil painter who wants one reliable solvent for thinning, cleaning and fat-over-lean underlayers.
Key features:
- 16.9 oz / 500 ml bottle
- Artist-grade odorless mineral spirits
- Described as safer than turpentine
- For thinning mediums and general painting
Pros:
- Purpose-made for artists rather than hardware-store thinner
- Good studio volume
- Pairs with any sealed brush washer
Cons and limitations:
- Still requires ventilation
- Not needed at all if you paint solvent-free with oil and soap cleanup
- Larger bottle than a beginner may need on day one
Buying consideration: Decant a small amount into a palette cup for painting and keep the main bottle closed. Let used solvent settle and pour off the clear layer to reuse it.
2. Fuumuui 25pcs Paint Brush Set, 9 Shapes — Best for a full brush range
Oil painting asks for more brush shapes than most media. This Fuumuui set lists 24 brushes in nine shapes: large wide flat, flat, filbert, fan, dagger, cat tongue, round, angle and rigger, plus a palette knife and a waterproof canvas roll with separate slots. That spread covers blocking in with flats, soft-edged forms with filberts, foliage texture with the fan, and branch lines with the rigger.
The brushes use synthetic bristles with birch handles. Synthetics clean easily and are fine for oil, though they behave differently from stiff hog bristle when you push thick paint. Think of this as the everyday range that lets you discover which shapes you reach for, then add specialist brushes later.
Best suited for: Painters building their first proper brush collection, or anyone replacing a mismatched drawer of worn brushes.
Key features:
- 24 brushes in 9 shapes plus palette knife
- Synthetic bristles, birch wood handles
- Waterproof canvas roll with compartments
- Listed for acrylic and oil
Pros:
- Huge shape variety for one purchase
- Roll protects bristles in storage or travel
- Includes specialty shapes like dagger and cat tongue
Cons and limitations:
- Synthetic hair is softer than hog for heavy impasto
- Many sizes means some will rarely be used
- Listing performance claims are marketing, not measured
Buying consideration: If you paint mostly thick and textural, pair this set with a few hog bristle flats. For smooth blending and detail, the synthetics will serve well.
3. CONDA Palette Knife Set, 5 Pieces — Best for mixing and knife painting
A palette knife is the cleanest way to mix oil color. Mixing with a brush loads paint into the ferrule and wastes it, while a knife folds pigment together evenly and scrapes the palette clean. CONDA includes one each of five standard knife styles in stainless steel with wooden handles, and the listing describes uses from mixing and spreading to scumbling and scratching.
Beyond mixing, the different blade shapes let you try knife painting: laying flat planes of color, building impasto texture or scraping back into wet paint. At this price tier, a set is a low-risk way to find which blade shape suits your hand.
Best suited for: Every oil painter, for clean color mixing, plus anyone curious about knife painting.
Key features:
- 5 knives in standard styles
- Stainless steel blades
- Wooden handles
- Individually packaged
Pros:
- Inexpensive essential
- Stainless blades resist rust from solvent cleanup
- Several shapes for mixing and painting
Cons and limitations:
- Budget knives may have less blade spring than premium ones
- Edges can need a light deburr before first use
Buying consideration: Wipe the blade with a rag and a drop of solvent after each mix so dried paint does not build up and contaminate the next color.
4. MyLifeUNIT Stainless Steel Brush Cleaner, 10 oz — Best for safe brush washing
An open jar of solvent on the table is the most common way a studio ends up smelling like a garage. This washer uses a sealing rubber loop that the listing says prevents solvent from escaping, and a removable porous filter that gives you a friction surface to work the brush against. Sludge falls through the screen, leaving cleaner solvent above.
The listing names water, spirits, turpentine and toning oil as suitable contents. In practice, fill it with odorless mineral spirits or a safflower oil for solvent-free cleaning, and close the lid whenever you are not actively rinsing.
Best suited for: Painters working indoors who want to cut fumes and reuse solvent longer.
Key features:
- 10 oz stainless steel container
- Sealing ring on the lid
- Removable porous filter
- Free-standing, portable
Pros:
- Keeps solvent covered between rinses
- Filter separates sludge for longer reuse
- Stainless steel will not react with solvents
Cons and limitations:
- 10 oz is a modest capacity for large brushes
- Must be emptied and cleaned periodically
Buying consideration: Pour used solvent through the filter, let it settle a few days, and decant the clear top layer. Dispose of the sludge according to local hazardous waste rules.
5. Masterson Palette Seal, 12 x 16 in — Best for saving mixed paint between sessions
Mixing a full palette of flesh tones or a sky gradient takes real time. A sealed palette box slows skinning so those mixes are still usable tomorrow. This Masterson tray and lid is studio size at 12 x 16 in, larger than most travel palettes, and the listing notes compatibility with acrylic and oil workflows.
Important detail from the listing: it is tray and lid only. Palette paper and sponge are sold separately for the Sta-Wet system, but for oils you can simply mix on a glass or paper palette that fits inside. Some painters also place the box in the freezer to slow oxidation further.
Best suited for: Painters who mix large batches and paint in several sessions on one piece.
Key features:
- 12 x 16 in storage tray and sealing lid
- Snap-style closure
- For acrylic and oil workflows
- Accessories sold separately
Pros:
- Saves paint and mixing time
- Large enough for a full-size palette
- Simple press-to-seal lid
Cons and limitations:
- No palette surface included
- Bulky for travel
- Will not stop oils from curing indefinitely
Buying consideration: Measure your current palette before ordering so it fits inside the tray.
6. Bellisinno Odorless Mineral Spirits, 100 ml — Best for trying oils on a small budget
If you are not yet sure oil is your medium, a 100 ml bottle is a sensible way to start. Bellisinno describes its thinner as made from odorless mineral oil free of aromatic solvents, for thinning oil colors, adjusting mediums and cleaning brushes.
The small bottle also suits plein air kits where weight matters. Once you settle into regular oil painting, a larger studio bottle will be more economical.
Best suited for: Beginners testing oil paint, or painters filling a compact travel kit.
Key features:
- 100 ml bottle
- Odorless mineral spirits
- For thinning and brush cleaning
Pros:
- Low commitment
- Light and packable
- Covers both thinning and cleaning
Cons and limitations:
- Runs out quickly in regular studio use
- Higher cost per ounce than large bottles
Buying consideration: Use a palette cup with a lid so a small bottle lasts. Every pour into an open jar evaporates faster than you expect.
7. ESRICH 141PCS Deluxe Painting Set — Best for an all-in-one starter kit
ESRICH bundles 84 paints across three media (36 acrylic, 24 oil and 24 watercolor) with a wooden table easel, a foldable metal easel, 12 acrylic brushes and 10 oil brushes in one heavy box. The listing states the paints conform to ASTM D-4236.
For someone who owns nothing, that is a fast way to get painting and to compare media side by side. Be realistic about the trade-off: multi-media kits split their budget across many items, so the oil tubes are best treated as practice paint. When you commit to oil, upgrading paint first will make the biggest difference.
Best suited for: Absolute beginners, gift buyers, and households where several people want to try different media.
Key features:
- 84 paints: 36 acrylic, 24 oil, 24 watercolor
- Wooden table easel and foldable metal easel
- 12 acrylic brushes and 10 oil brushes
- Listed as ASTM D-4236 conforming
Pros:
- Everything needed to start in one purchase
- Two easels included
- Lets you compare three media
Cons and limitations:
- No solvent included, so you still need one for oils
- Kit paints are not artist-grade oils
- Heavy and large to store
Buying consideration: Add a solvent, a lidded palette cup and a palette knife and this set becomes a functional beginner oil studio.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Oil Painting Supplies
Decide on solvent or solvent-free first
Your cleaning method shapes your shopping list. With a solvent, you need an odorless mineral spirit, a sealed washer and ventilation. Solvent-free painters clean with a vegetable oil and soap, and thin paint with oil-based mediums instead. Both work; mixing the two approaches without a plan is where problems start.
Buy brushes by shape, not count
A big set is only useful if the shapes are ones you will use. For oils, flats and filberts in small, medium and large sizes do most of the work, with a round or rigger for lines. Bristle type matters too: stiff hog bristle moves thick paint, while synthetics give smoother blends and cleaner detail.
Get a knife before you think you need one
Mixing with a knife keeps colors clean and brushes longer-lived. A small trowel-shaped blade is the most versatile; larger and pointed blades open up knife painting.
Plan for storage and paint waste
Oil paint stays workable for hours but skins overnight. A palette seal, a freezer, or simply mixing less at a time all reduce waste. A lidded palette cup stops solvent and medium evaporating while you work.
Match volume to how often you paint
Small bottles are fine for testing, but regular painters save money with larger sizes of the things they use daily, mainly solvent, white paint and medium.
Ventilation is a supply too
Budget for a window fan or air purifier if you use solvents in a small room. Odorless mineral spirits reduce smell, not exposure.
Upgrade in the right order
For most painters the highest-impact upgrades are, in order: better paint, better brushes, a proper palette and knife, then accessories. Kits are a good start but rarely the place to economize long term.
Where to Go Next
Once your tools are sorted, color is the next decision. Our U.S. Art Supply oil paint review looks at a budget-friendly paint set that pairs well with the supplies above. To put the kit to work, try a guided subject such as painting fog in oils, which leans heavily on solvent control and soft blending, or painting grass in oil for practice with fan brushes and knife texture.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using hardware-store thinner indoors. General-purpose thinners can be harsher-smelling than artist-grade odorless spirits.
- Leaving solvent uncovered. It evaporates into the room and the air you breathe. Use lidded cups and a sealed washer.
- Mixing with your best brush. Use a palette knife and keep brushes for applying paint.
- Thinning every layer with solvent. Follow fat over lean: more solvent early, more oil or medium in later layers.
- Throwing rags in the trash. Oil-soaked rags can self-heat. Lay them flat to dry or store them in water in a sealed metal container before disposal.
- Buying a huge kit and no solvent. Many starter sets do not include one, so check before your first session.
FAQs
What supplies do I need to start oil painting?
At minimum: oil paints in a limited palette, a few flat and filbert brushes, a palette and palette knife, a surface such as primed canvas or panel, a solvent or a solvent-free cleaning oil, rags or paper towels, and a lidded cup for medium.
Is Gamsol safer than turpentine?
Gamblin describes Gamsol as safer for painters and the environment than turpentine and harsh mineral spirits. It is still a solvent, so use it with ventilation and keep containers closed.
Can I oil paint without any solvent?
Yes. Many painters thin with oil-based mediums and clean brushes with vegetable oil followed by soap and water. It takes a little longer but eliminates solvent fumes.
Do I need a palette knife?
It is not strictly required, but it makes mixing cleaner and saves brushes. Most oil painters consider one essential once they try it.
How do I keep oil paint from drying on my palette?
Cover it with a sealed palette box between sessions, and for longer breaks some painters place it in the freezer. Mixing only what you need also helps.
Are all-in-one painting kits worth it for oils?
They are a quick, affordable start, especially for comparing media. Expect to replace kit paints and brushes with better ones as your skills grow.
Final Recommendation
For a studio that already has paint, the best first purchases are Gamsol for solvent, the CONDA knives for mixing and the MyLifeUNIT washer for safer cleanup. If your brush drawer is thin, the Fuumuui 25-piece set fills in every common shape at once, and the Masterson Palette Seal earns its place once you start painting over multiple sessions.
Beginners who want to try oil before committing can start smaller with the Bellisinno bottle, while someone starting from nothing will get going fastest with the ESRICH kit plus a solvent and a lidded cup.
