Quick answer: US Art Supply oil paints are budget, student-grade sets aimed at beginners, hobbyists and classrooms. They are typically sold in sets of small tubes with a wide color range at a low price, which makes them useful for practice, color mixing exercises and learning technique. As with most budget oils, expect lower pigment load, more “hue” colors and less consistency than artist-grade paint. For learning, they can be good value; for finished work meant to last, check the labels for pigment and lightfastness information or upgrade key colors.
US Art Supply is a US-based seller of affordable art materials, and its oil paint sets show up frequently in searches for cheap beginner kits. The appeal is obvious: lots of colors for very little money. The question is what you actually get, and whether that matches what you need.
This US Art Supply oil paint review takes an evaluation approach rather than a hands-on test. It explains what budget student oils generally offer, which features to check on these sets, and how to get the best results from them. If you are still assembling a full kit, our guide to the best oil painting supplies for artists covers brushes, surfaces, mediums and other essentials beyond the paint itself.
Disclosure of method: this article summarizes publicly listed product information and general knowledge of student-grade oil paints. It does not report personal testing. Product specifications change, so confirm details on the current listing and tube labels.
What US Art Supply Oil Paint Sets Usually Include
Based on typical listings, US Art Supply oil paints are sold mainly as sets rather than individual professional tubes. Common features include:
- Small tubes, often around 12 ml each, which is standard for budget beginner sets.
- Set sizes such as 12, 24 or 36 colors, sometimes more.
- A broad color range including premixed convenience colors such as greens, violets and pinks.
- Low price per set, positioning them as an entry-level option.
- Student or “artist quality” marketing language; the actual grade is best judged from pigment information.
Some listings also bundle oils with brushes, canvas panels or easels as complete starter kits.
Student-Grade vs Artist-Grade Oil Paint
| Feature | Budget student sets (category US Art Supply is generally placed in) | Artist-grade paint |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Very low per tube | Higher, with series pricing |
| Tube size | Often around 12 ml | Often 37–40 ml or larger |
| Pigments | Frequently hues and mixed pigments | Usually single, genuine pigments |
| Pigment load | Lower; more filler | Higher; stronger tinting |
| Consistency between colors | Can vary | More uniform |
| Lightfastness labeling | Sometimes limited | Usually listed |
| Best use | Practice, studies, learning, classrooms | Finished, lasting work |
Being student grade is not a flaw. It means the paint is designed for a different purpose: making practice affordable.
What to Evaluate in a US Art Supply Oil Paint Set
Pigment labeling
Check whether each tube or the listing shows Color Index pigment codes, for example PB29 for ultramarine blue or PW6 for titanium white. Clear labels let you understand mixing behavior and compare with other brands. If codes are missing, treat colors as general approximations.
Tinting strength
Budget paints often contain more extender, so they may change white less dramatically than artist paint. You can check by mixing a fixed small amount of blue into a fixed larger amount of white.
Consistency
In inexpensive sets, some colors may be stiffer and others looser or oilier. A little oil separation is normal in oils generally, but very runny or very dry tubes can occur. Blotting oily paint on paper towel briefly helps.
Lightfastness
For studies and practice, lightfastness matters less. For pieces you want to hang or sell, look for ASTM I or II ratings where stated.
Tube and cap quality
Small aluminum tubes in budget sets can split at crimps or have caps that stick. Store tubes upright or flat with caps clean, and wipe the threads after use.
How to Check a Set When It Arrives
A quick inspection in the first week tells you more than any listing. These checks take under an hour and help you decide which colors to rely on.
- Inspect the tubes. Look for leaks, split seams or crushed caps. Report damaged tubes to the seller promptly.
- Read every label. Write down which colors list pigment codes and which are marked as hues.
- Make a swatch card. Paint a short stripe of each color at full strength and a second stripe mixed with white on primed paper. Label each one.
- Check consistency. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of each color. Note which are runny, stiff or separated.
- Try a tint test. Mix the blue into white with a fixed ratio and compare against another brand if you have one.
- Note drying times. Check the swatches daily and record when each feels dry to the touch.
The swatch card becomes a reference you can keep by the easel, and it shows quickly which tubes are worth reaching for.
Value per Milliliter: Doing the Math
Budget sets look cheap per set, but comparing price per milliliter gives a fairer picture. Divide the set price by the total volume (number of tubes multiplied by tube size). Then do the same for any alternative you are considering. Keep in mind that a paint with weaker tinting strength may need more volume to achieve the same color, so the lowest price per milliliter is not automatically the best value. For practice, though, low cost per milliliter means you can paint more freely and use paint generously, which is how beginners learn fastest.
What a Paint Set Does Not Include
Even a large oil paint set covers only one part of what you need. Most painters also need:
- Primed canvas, panels or oil paper
- Brushes suited to oils, such as bristle or firm synthetic filberts and flats
- A palette and palette knife
- A solvent or solvent-free cleaning method
- A painting medium, such as linseed oil, if you want to adjust flow
- Rags or paper towels and a safe way to dispose of them
Budgeting for these from the start avoids the common situation of having plenty of paint but nothing suitable to paint on.
Who US Art Supply Oil Paints Suit
- Complete beginners testing whether they enjoy oil painting before investing.
- Students and classrooms needing many colors for many people at low cost.
- Hobbyists painting for fun, crafts or decorative projects.
- Experienced painters who want cheap paint for underpaintings, color studies or experiments.
Who may want something else
- Painters producing commissions or work for sale who need documented lightfastness.
- Painters who mix heavily with white and need strong tinting strength.
- Anyone frustrated by uneven consistency across colors.
How to Get Better Results from Budget Oil Paints
- Use a limited palette. Choose five to seven colors from the set (a white, a warm and cool yellow, a warm and cool red, a blue and an earth color). Mixing your own colors from fewer tubes improves results and teaches color.
- Upgrade white first. White makes up a large share of most paintings. A larger tube of artist-grade titanium white can noticeably improve mixtures.
- Avoid overthinning. Budget paints already have less pigment; heavy solvent dilution makes them chalky. Use solvent mainly for toning and underdrawing.
- Blot excess oil. If a color is runny, place it on paper towel or cardboard briefly.
- Add a medium for flow if some colors are stiff, a drop of linseed oil or painting medium can even out consistency.
- Use convenience colors sparingly. Premixed greens and violets can be useful but often look artificial; adjust them with earth tones.
- Prime properly. Use quality primed surfaces; cheap paint on a poorly primed surface compounds problems.
Beginner Projects That Suit a Budget Set
| Project | Skills practiced | Colors needed |
|---|---|---|
| Color mixing chart | Understanding how colors interact | All primaries and white |
| Value study | Light and shadow | Burnt umber and white |
| Simple landscape | Blending, atmospheric perspective | Blue, yellow, red, white, earth |
| Still life with fruit | Form, highlights, shadows | Limited palette |
| Abstract color study | Brushwork, texture | Any |
Common Complaints About Budget Oil Paints and Fixes
Colors look dull or chalky
Often due to lower pigment load or too much solvent. Use less solvent, add a little oil medium, or apply a retouch varnish once dry to restore saturation.
Paint takes very long to dry
Some budget formulations contain more oil or slow-drying oils. Thin layers, warmer rooms and earth colors help. An alkyd medium used sparingly speeds drying.
Paint is too oily
Blot on paper towel before use.
Paint is too stiff
Mix in a small amount of linseed oil or medium with a palette knife.
Mixtures go muddy fast
Convenience colors and hues can contain multiple pigments; mixing many together creates mud. Stick to fewer colors per mixture.
Mixing Budget and Artist-Grade Paint on One Palette
You do not have to choose one or the other. Oil paints from different brands are generally compatible because they share the same basic chemistry of pigment and drying oil. A common approach is to use a budget set for underpaintings, toning and color studies, then switch to a few artist-grade tubes for final layers and highlights. Keep fat over lean in mind: if a budget color is noticeably oilier than your artist-grade paint, use it in later layers rather than at the bottom.
Safety Notes
Check the labels for any health warnings and follow standard oil painting precautions: ventilate the room, keep paint off skin, do not eat while painting, use solvents sparingly in a lidded jar, and handle oily rags safely by drying them flat outdoors or storing them in water in a sealed metal container. If a set is intended for children, confirm it carries appropriate safety labeling such as the AP seal; oil paints and solvents generally need adult supervision.
Storing Small Tubes So They Last
Small tubes dry out faster once opened because there is less paint relative to the air inside. Squeeze from the bottom and roll the tube up as you go, wipe the threads before recapping, and store the set at room temperature away from direct sun. If a cap sticks, warm it briefly under hot water rather than twisting the tube.
Should You Buy a US Art Supply Oil Paint Set?
If your goal is learning, practicing and exploring color without worrying about wasting expensive paint, a budget set like this can be good value. Many painters keep cheap paint for exercises and reserve better paint for finished work. If you already know you love oil painting and want to produce lasting pieces, putting the same money toward a few artist-grade colors may serve you better.
FAQs
Is US Art Supply oil paint good for beginners?
It can be a practical starting point for beginners because it is inexpensive and offers many colors. Expect student-grade performance suited to practice and learning.
Is US Art Supply oil paint artist grade?
The sets are generally positioned as budget or student-level paints. Check pigment codes and lightfastness ratings on the labels to judge each color.
How long does US Art Supply oil paint take to dry?
Like most oils, thin layers often feel dry in a few days and thicker layers take longer. Drying varies by color, layer thickness and room conditions.
Can you use US Art Supply oils with mediums?
Yes. They can be used with standard oil mediums, such as linseed oil, and thinners, such as odorless mineral spirits, following fat-over-lean principles.
Are cheap oil paints worth it?
For practice and studies, yes. For finished, lasting work, artist-grade paint generally offers stronger color and better documented lightfastness.
What should I upgrade first from a budget set?
Titanium white is usually the first upgrade, followed by the colors you use most, such as ultramarine blue and burnt umber.
Final Thoughts
US Art Supply oil paints occupy a clear niche: low-cost sets for learning and experimenting. They are a reasonable starting point if you accept student-grade limitations and use them strategically, with a limited palette, minimal solvent and an upgraded white.
To round out your kit with the right brushes, surfaces and mediums, see our guide to essential oil painting supplies worth owning, which breaks down each category and what to look for.
