Quick answer: Blick oil paint is generally considered good value, but “good” depends on which line you buy. Blick sells its own oil colors in more than one grade: an artist-grade line aimed at serious painters and a cheaper student line aimed at learners and classrooms. The artist line is widely regarded as a solid mid-priced option, while the student line is fine for practice but uses more filler and fewer single-pigment colors. Always check the pigment code and health label on each tube before deciding.
Blick Art Materials is one of the largest art supply retailers in the US, and like many big retailers it sells paint under its own house name. That raises a fair question for anyone shopping on a budget: is Blick oil paint good, or is it a cheap store brand you will outgrow in a month?
The honest answer is that the label alone does not tell you. This guide explains how Blick’s oil paint lines are generally positioned, what separates artist-grade from student-grade oil paint, how to read a tube so you can judge any color yourself, and how to think about Blick paints for teens and younger children. Parents shopping for a child will also want to see our guide to safer oil paint options for kids.
Is Blick Oil Paint Good? The Short Breakdown
Blick’s house-brand oils have typically come in two main tiers. Exact names, color counts and formulations can change, so treat the following as a general picture and confirm details on the current product listing.
| Line (general positioning) | Grade | Typical strengths | Typical trade-offs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blick Artists’ Oil Colors | Artist / professional | Moderate price for artist grade, wide color range, many single-pigment colors | Consistency and tinting strength can vary by color, as with most brands | Serious hobbyists, art students, painters on a budget |
| Blick Studio Oil Colors | Student | Low cost, large tubes, consistent handling | More filler, hue substitutes for expensive pigments, weaker tinting | Beginners, classrooms, underpainting, practice |
Neither tier is “bad.” They are built for different jobs. The more useful question is which grade fits what you are painting.
Artist Grade vs Student Grade: What You Actually Get
Every major oil paint maker separates paint into roughly these two categories. Understanding the difference matters more than any brand name.
Pigment load
Artist-grade paint generally contains a higher proportion of pigment. That means stronger color when mixed with white, better coverage and more mixing power per tube. Student paint uses more extenders (fillers such as chalk or aluminum hydroxide) to keep cost down, so you often use more paint to get the same intensity.
Real pigments vs “hues”
Expensive pigments, such as cadmiums and cobalts, are often replaced in student lines with cheaper pigment mixtures labeled “hue” (for example, “Cadmium Red Hue”). Hues can look very close straight from the tube but may mix differently, and they can be less opaque.
Single-pigment colors
Artist lines usually offer more colors made from just one pigment. Single-pigment colors mix more cleanly and predictably, which is why many teachers recommend building a limited palette from them.
Consistency
Student paints are often formulated to feel uniform across the whole range. Artist paints vary more color to color, because each pigment behaves differently in oil. This is normal and not a sign of poor quality.
Price per tube
Student paint is usually priced the same regardless of color. Artist paint is priced in “series,” with costly pigments in higher series. A cobalt blue may cost several times more than a burnt umber in the same line.
How to Judge a Tube of Blick Oil Paint Yourself
You do not need to trust anyone’s opinion, including ours. Everything you need is printed on the tube or its online listing.
- Find the pigment code. It looks like PB29 (ultramarine blue), PW6 (titanium white) or PR108 (cadmium red). One code means a single-pigment color. Several codes mean a mixture.
- Look for the word “hue.” It signals a substitute for a more expensive pigment.
- Check lightfastness. Many brands rate lightfastness using ASTM categories (I is excellent, II very good). Colors without a rating, or rated lower, are better for studies than for work you plan to sell or hang in sunlight.
- Check the binder. Most oil paints use linseed oil. Some whites and pale colors use safflower or poppy oil to reduce yellowing, at the cost of slower drying.
- Read the health label. In the US, art materials should carry an ASTM D-4236 conformance statement. Look for an AP (Approved Product) seal, or a CL (Cautionary Label) seal with specific warnings for colors that contain hazardous pigments.
- Do a tint test. Mix an equal-sized dab of the color with titanium white. A strong paint still looks intense; a heavily extended one turns pale quickly.
Comparing two or three of these points across brands tells you far more than reviews do, because quality really does vary color by color within any line.
Where Blick Oil Paint Tends to Make Sense
Budget-conscious serious painters
Many painters build a palette from a mid-priced artist line and only buy premium brands for a few key colors. Blick’s artist line is commonly mentioned as one of those mid-priced options in the US because it is easy to buy and generally priced below premium European brands.
Art students
Students who go through paint quickly benefit from large tubes of reasonable quality. Large tubes of white, in particular, are worth prioritizing in any brand, since white is used in nearly every mix.
Underpainting and practice
Student-grade paint, including Blick’s student line, is perfectly suitable for underpaintings, tonal studies and color exercises, where pigment strength and lightfastness matter less.
Classrooms
House-brand student paint is a common classroom choice because it is consistent and affordable, though teachers should still select colors carefully for younger students (see the safety section below).
Where You Might Want Something Else
- Very young children. Traditional oil paint is not designed for young kids, regardless of brand. It stains, takes days to dry and traditionally needs solvents for cleanup.
- Glazing-heavy techniques. If you rely on transparent glazes, you may prefer a line with more documented transparency information for every color.
- Specialty pigments. Certain rare or historical pigments may only be offered by specialist makers.
- Solvent-free studios. If you want to avoid solvents, water-mixable oils (offered by several brands) may suit you better.
Blick Oil Paint and Kids: What Parents Should Know
The question “is Blick oil paint good” often comes from parents buying for a teen or a creative younger child. Brand quality is only half the decision. Oil paint itself has practical and safety considerations:
| Consideration | Why it matters for kids | Practical approach |
|---|---|---|
| Hazardous pigments | Some colors (e.g., cadmiums, cobalts, certain lead whites sold by specialist makers) carry warnings if ingested or inhaled as dust | Choose colors with AP seals for younger painters; avoid colors with CL warnings |
| Solvents | Traditional cleanup uses mineral spirits or turpentine, which give off vapors | Use odorless mineral spirits with ventilation for teens only, or clean brushes with oil and soap |
| Drying time | Paintings stay wet for days, which tests patience and invites smudges | Use thin layers, small canvases, and a safe drying shelf |
| Staining | Oil paint stains clothing and furniture | Smock, covered table, disposable palette |
| Rags | Rags soaked in linseed oil can heat up as they dry and pose a fire risk | Lay flat to dry outdoors or store in a sealed metal container with water |
For younger children, water-mixable oils or simpler kid-focused sets often make more sense than a full professional palette. Our roundup of the best oil paints for children focuses on options with friendlier cleanup and clearer safety labeling.
A Smart Way to Start With Blick Oils
If you decide to try Blick paints, a limited palette keeps cost down and teaches mixing:
- Titanium White (large tube)
- A warm yellow (such as a cadmium yellow or a hue version)
- A cool yellow (such as a lemon yellow)
- A warm red (cadmium red or hue)
- A cool red (alizarin crimson hue or a quinacridone red)
- Ultramarine Blue
- Phthalo or Prussian Blue (use sparingly; very strong)
- Burnt Umber or Burnt Sienna
From these, you can mix most colors you will need. Compare the pigment codes with any other brand you already own, and you will quickly see how Blick stacks up color for color.
How to Run a Simple Side-by-Side Test
If you already own another brand, a 30-minute comparison tells you more than any review. Use the same color in both brands, ideally one with an identical pigment code such as ultramarine blue (PB29) or burnt sienna (PBr7).
- Masstone swatch: Brush each paint straight from the tube onto a primed card. Compare color, gloss and opacity.
- Tint strength: Mix a pea-sized amount of each color with an equal amount of the same titanium white. The stronger paint keeps more intensity.
- Drawdown: Scrape a thin film across a black line drawn on the card. More opaque paint hides the line sooner.
- Handling: Note whether the paint feels buttery, stringy, stiff or oily, and whether it holds a brushstroke.
- Drying check: Touch-test both swatches each day and note when they stop feeling tacky.
- Light test (longer term): Cover half of each swatch and place the card in a sunny window for several weeks. Any fading shows up as a visible line.
Label everything carefully. The results are specific to the colors you test, so repeat the process with colors you care about most.
Value for Money: Thinking About Cost Per Use
Price per tube can mislead. A cheaper student tube with heavy filler may need more paint to reach the same color intensity, and it may need more white, too. Artist-grade paint often goes further in mixes. On the other hand, for underpainting, tonal studies and large practice canvases, that extra strength is wasted. Many painters keep both grades on hand and choose by task, which is usually more economical than committing to one grade for everything.
Common Mistakes When Judging Any Oil Paint Brand
- Judging the whole line by one color. A brand can make an excellent ultramarine and a mediocre yellow.
- Comparing student paint to artist paint. Make sure you compare like with like.
- Ignoring the white. A weak or overly stiff white affects every mix. It is worth choosing carefully.
- Assuming expensive means better for you. For practice and studies, premium paint is often unnecessary.
- Forgetting lightfastness. Bright colors that fade within a few years can disappoint if you sell or gift your work.
FAQs
Is Blick oil paint artist quality?
Blick sells more than one grade. Its artist-labeled oil line is positioned as artist quality, while its studio line is a student grade. Check the label on the specific tube you are buying.
Who makes Blick oil paint?
Blick sells the paint under its own brand. Manufacturing details are not always published on the tube, so check Blick’s current product information if the source matters to you.
Is Blick oil paint good for beginners?
Yes, both lines can work for beginners. The student line keeps costs low for practice, while the artist line offers stronger color if you are ready to invest a little more.
Is Blick oil paint safe for kids?
Some colors carry AP seals and others carry cautionary labels. Traditional oil paint also involves long drying times and, often, solvents. Teens can use it with supervision; younger children usually do better with water-mixable or kid-focused sets.
How does Blick compare with premium oil paint brands?
Premium brands generally offer more single-pigment colors and more detailed technical information. Many painters find a mid-priced artist line suitable for most colors, then add a few premium tubes where it matters to them.
Does Blick oil paint dry fast?
Drying time depends on the pigment, binder oil and layer thickness, not just the brand. Earth colors usually dry in a few days; some whites and alizarin-type colors can take longer.
Final Thoughts
Blick oil paint is a reasonable choice for many painters, especially if you match the grade to the job: artist grade for finished work, student grade for practice and underpainting. Read pigment codes, lightfastness ratings and health labels, and you can judge any tube on its own merits.
If you are buying for a child rather than yourself, start with our comparison of non-toxic oil paint sets suited to young painters, which weighs cleanup, safety labeling and ease of use.
