best oil paints for artists

Are you a serious oil painter and would like the top oil paints rated?

Have you ever found yourself in front of the rows and rows of oil paints unable to decide which ones were best suited for you?

Are you confused by the many manufacturers of artist oil paints and their claims?

9 Top Oil Paints Rated

I've sorted through the many artist paint manufacturers and rated the top oil paints so that it will make it easy for you next time you are making your art supply list for your studio.

Top oil paints rated in this article also have a detailed description, review and a price comparison.

Professional Grade vs. Student Grade

It is important to understand that oil paints are divided into two categories: Professional Grade also called Artist Grade and Student Grade.

Knowing which oil paint is best suited for your particular needs will not only save you money but valuable time when you go shopping for your art supplies.

Once you understand and balance your particular needs as an artist with the benefits of each oil paint described, you will be able to make the best choice possible in choosing your oil paint brand.

Student Grade

Student Grade oil paint tends to use more inert fillers and less pure pigment. The result is less vivid colors, less tinting strength and less colorful effect overall.

But since they use cheaper inert fillers, they are also less expensive. Student grades vary widely in quality and so research and experimentation is needed to find the right balance of cost verses quality that will fit your need.

Professional or Artist Grade

Professional or Artist Grade oil paints usually have more pure pigment. As a result, the colors are brighter and have more covering strength on the canvas. They are also the most expensive of the oil paint choices.

They are commonly cataloged into six series by rarity and value, Series 1 (or A) being the most plentiful and least expensive, and Series 6 (or F) being the most rare and most expensive.

Professional artist grade oil paints tend to come in smaller tubes since they are mostly pure pigment with superior oil binders, and therefore extend a long way in contrast to student paints.

When using them to their fullest potential, you will certainly notice the difference in hue quality and intensity of professional paints.

Just to let you know, all of the product links in this article are affiliate links. That means I get a small commission if you buy anything, but it doesn't cost you any extra. Don't worry, I'm always honest, open, impartial with my reviews – I only recommend the good stuff – but this affiliate income helps keep the site running.

Here are my 9 Top Oil Paints Rated from least to most expensive:

9 Top Artist Oil Paints - Quick Comparison Guide

Rating	Brand Name	Quality Grade & Price
9	Winsor & Newton Winton OilsBUY NOW ON AMAZON	Student Inexpensive ($)
8	Daler Rowney GeorgianBUY NOW ON AMAZON	Student Inexpensive ($)
7	Grumbacher Oil ColorsBUY NOW ON AMAZON	Student Inexpensive ($$)
6	Winsor & Newton Artist's OilsBUY NOW ON AMAZON	Student/Professional Moderately Expensive ($$)
5	Gamblin Artist OilsBUY NOW ON AMAZON	Student/Professional Moderately Expensive ($$)
4	Sennelier Oils BUY NOW ON AMAZON	Professional Very Expensive ($$$)
3	Schmincke Mussini OilsBUY NOW ON AMAZON	Professional Very Expensive ($$$)
2	Holbein Artist's OilsBUY NOW ON AMAZON	Professional Very Expensive ($$$)
1	Old Holland Classic Oil ColorsBUY NOW ON AMAZON	Professional/Connoisseur Extremely Expensive ($$$$$)

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Below are the full written reviews, detailed comments, and ratings for each of the 9 top oil paints.

#9. Winsor & Newton Winton Oils

9 top oil paints rated for the serious oil painter — *Winton student oil paints by Winsor Newton*

Price: Inexpensive ($)

Quality Grade: Student

Winton Oil are Student Grade oil paints manufactured by Winsor & Newton.

They combine raw materials and modern techniques to suit any painting style at an economical price.

Review:Winton Oil paints are my favorite pick for beginning painters. They combine the perfect combination of quality and price. If you are a beginning painter, you will appreciate the lower cost without sacrificing too much on the quality side. You will certainly get the results you want without breaking the bank. I have used Winton oil colors extensively throughout my art career and wholeheartedly recommend them.

#8. Daler Rowney Georgian

Price: Inexpensive ($)

Quality Grade: Student

Daler Rowney oils are well-known for their economical color strength and excellent lightfastness.

Review: I was first introduced to Georgian oil paints by Daler Rowney when I was a student at the Art Students' League of New York. There were some of the students there who were using this brand of oil paint. A fellow student allowed me to sample and use some of their Georgian colors. This brand is a good choice if you are considering price over quality. You can usually find this brand at most art supply stores, department stores even drugstores. It usually is priced very low in most retail stores.

#7. Grumbacher Oil Colors

Price: Inexpensive ($$)

Quality Grade: Student

Comparable to Winsor & Newton's Winton student grade artist's oil colors in price and quality. Grumbacher at one time was a leader in manufacturing quality oil colors. But Tupperware has acquired Grumbacher, and as a result, quality has declined significantly over the years.

Review: Grumbacher was the first oil paint that I painted with when I was a teenager. At that time, the quality of the paint was much superior than it is today. Over the years, Grumbacher has been acquired by several larger companies that are more concerned with the bottom line than producing a quality product. I would still recommend this brand for beginning painting students.

#6. Winsor & Newton Artist's Oil Colors

Price: Moderately Expensive ($$)

Quality Grade: Student/Professional

World renowned, Winsor & Newton is one my favorite brands of professional oil paint. They contain the highest level of pigmentation consistent with good handling properties, unsurpassed covering power and permanence.

Review:Winsor & Newton is a top choice for students as well as professional painters around the world. I have used this brand many times throughout my professional career and have always been completely satisfied with the result. If you are a student or beginning painter and have the extra budget, I strongly recommend that you try this oil paint. You will not be disappointed.

#5. Gamblin

*I give Gamblin my Best Value award. Without question, Gamblin gives you the highest quality paint for the money.*

Price: Moderately Expensive ($$)

Quality Grade: Student/Professional

Gamlin Artists Colors Company makes quality artist's colors at reasonable prices. They contain lightfast pigments blended with linseed oil and create colors with luscious working properties. Many professionals use Gamblin oil colors as they combine the best of quality with the best of economy.

Review: I have used Gamblin for many years and it remains one of my favorites. I was first introduced to this brand when I was a student at the Art Students' League of New York. Many students and art teachers there were using this oil paint. It combines the best of quality with the best of economy. Whether you are a student or professional, you will be very happy with this oil paint choice.

#4. Sennelier Oils

Price: Very Expensive ($$$)

Quality Grade: Professional

One of the oldest paint manufacturers in Europe, Sennelier was once the choice for Pablo Picasso. Combines highest quality pigments with highest quality manufacturing processes.

Review: I have had the chance to use this oil paint and found it to exceed all expectations. This paint combines some of the purest and brightest oil paint pigments I have ever used. Their manufacturing process creates a smooth and buttery pigment that is unequaled.

#3. Schmincke Mussini Oils

Price: Very Expensive ($$$)

Quality Grade: Professional

Schmincke Mussini Oils contain natural resins for a balanced drying process with reduced aging and long-term cracking. Good for painting in layers and for glazing techniques.

Review: I was given a set of these oil paints one time as a gift. The brightness and intensity of the colors were what most excited me about this brand. These oils use an alkyd resin as a base, and so dry very quickly, in most cases overnight. You get the luster of oils combined with the convenience of fast drying time like acrylic paint. This paint also resists yellowing and cracking, which can be a problem with conventional oil paints. Try this brand if you need exceptional glazing capacity.

#2. Holbein Artist's Oils

Price: Very Expensive ($$$)

Quality Grade: Professional

Pure pigments at a lower price, Holbein boasts consistent viscosity, color, tone, application, and adhesion.

Review: I was first introduced to this oil paint brand at the Art Students' League of New York. One of my teachers there used this oil paint exclusively. The main thing that impressed me with this paint was the extreme buttery consistency. These oil colors were also very bright and pure. Excellent choice for any professional painter.

#1. Old Holland Classic Oil Colors

Price: Extremely Expensive ($$$$$)

Quality Grade: Professional/Connoisseur

Old Holland prides itself on intensity of the colors and great covering power. Highest quality and highest price. They contain no fillers or waxes and use only lightfast pigments. This is the greatest oil paint for the true connoisseur.

Review: I was first introduced to this oil paint brand at an art supply shop in Manhattan. The owner of the shop let me try out some of these wonderful paints. These paints contain the purest pigments you will ever see in a tube of oil. The creamy and buttery consistency glides onto the canvas with ease. The colors are bright and vivid. The tinting strength is unequaled. This oil paint surpasses all the others and then some.

You should always purchase the most expensive white artist oil pigment you can afford. Think about this: white is the color that will make up 80% or more of your painting. So if you use a very high quality white pigment, it will raise the entire quality of your painting. Old Holland white pigment will do best as your base white. We were always encouraged at The Art Students' League to buy the most expensive white.

Other Useful Pages:

Ultimate Art Supply Guide

Gary's Book Club

Resources For Artists

Art Print & Gift Shop