6 Best Oil Paint Sets For Aspiring Painters That Grow With Your Skill

Your child has moved past finger paints and craft acrylics, and now they’re asking about "real" paints. You’ve seen them spend hours sketching, and their art teacher mentioned they have a good eye for color. Suddenly, you’re standing in an art supply aisle, staring at a wall of oil paint tubes, and it feels just as overwhelming as buying that first baseball bat or pair of ballet shoes.

Choosing Paints for Your Child’s Art Journey

That moment you decide to invest in a new interest is a big one. It’s a signal to your child that you see their passion and you’re willing to support it. But with oil painting, the stakes feel a little higher than with colored pencils. The materials are more complex, they require special care, and they represent a significant step up in commitment, usually for kids around age 12 and up who can handle the responsibility of solvents and proper ventilation.

Think of it like moving from a rental violin to purchasing their first instrument. You don’t need a Stradivarius for the school orchestra, but a flimsy, out-of-tune instrument will only cause frustration and kill their motivation. The goal is to find that sweet spot: a paint set that is forgiving enough for a beginner but high-quality enough to produce rewarding results. The right starting set encourages practice, while the wrong one can become a barrier.

Winsor & Newton Winton: The Ideal First Oil Set

You see your middle-schooler showing real promise, and their art class is introducing oils. They need a reliable set for homework and their own explorations, but you aren’t ready to invest in professional supplies just yet. The Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colour line is the perfect answer. It’s the trusted, go-to brand for students and hobbyists everywhere for a reason.

These paints are formulated to be consistent and dependable, with a slightly stiffer texture that is great for learning brush control. The pigment load—the amount of pure color in the paint—is lower than in professional grades, which actually makes them more forgiving for learning color mixing. It’s the equivalent of a well-made acoustic guitar for a first-time player; it does everything it needs to do, sounds good, and allows them to build fundamental skills without the cost and nuance of a high-end instrument.

W&N Artisan Water Mixable: Less Fumes, Same Feel

Let’s be practical. Your aspiring artist works at the kitchen table, you have younger kids in the house, or your home has limited ventilation. The idea of turpentine and mineral spirits is a non-starter. This is where water-mixable oils, like the W&N Artisan series, are a game-changer for families.

These are real oil paints, modified to clean up with just soap and water. They eliminate the need for harsh solvents, making the whole process safer and more accessible for a home environment. While seasoned oil painters might notice a subtle difference in handling, for a young artist, the benefits are enormous. It removes a major logistical hurdle, allowing them to focus on learning to paint, not on managing chemicals. This is the set for the family that values both creativity and practicality.

Gamblin 1980 Oils: A Step Up in Pigment Quality

Your child has been painting with their student-grade set for a year or two. They’re producing work you’re truly proud of, and they aren’t just doing it for class anymore—they’re painting on their own time. This is the moment to reward that dedication with an upgrade that matches their growing skill. Gamblin 1980 is that next step.

Positioned as a premium student-grade paint, the 1980 line offers a significant jump in pigment load and vibrancy from most entry-level sets. The colors are richer and mix more cleanly, allowing a developing artist to achieve more sophisticated results. This is like moving your soccer player from all-purpose cleats to a pair designed for their position. The new equipment won’t make them a better player, but it will absolutely support their advancing technique and allow their skills to shine.

Gamblin Artist’s Set: Your First Professional Kit

You’re now seeing a portfolio, not just a pile of paintings. Your teen is talking about art school, taking commissions for pet portraits, or entering local art shows. Their student-grade paints are now the limiting factor; they understand color theory well enough to know their materials are holding them back. The Gamblin Artist’s Grade Oil Colors are their first true professional toolkit.

With this set, the conversation shifts from "learning" to "creating." These paints are lush, buttery, and packed with the highest-quality pigments, meaning a little bit goes a long way and the colors are brilliant and permanent. Investing in a set like this tells your young artist that you see them as just that: an artist. It’s a profound vote of confidence in their future and their identity. It provides them with the exact same tools used by professionals, removing any doubt that their materials are anything less than the best.

Michael Harding Oils: Rich, Handcrafted Pigments

For the truly dedicated young painter who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and skill, there are paints that are less a supply and more an experience. Michael Harding is an artist who started making his own paints to achieve a quality he couldn’t find elsewhere. His paints are known for their incredible richness and a texture that many artists describe as uniquely responsive and beautiful to work with.

This isn’t a beginner or even an intermediate set. This is a special gift for a high school graduation or a major artistic achievement. Using paints like these is a lesson in itself—it teaches a young artist about the quality of their materials and how handcrafted, pigment-dense colors behave differently. It’s a luxury, but one that connects them to the deep history and craft of painting.

Old Holland Classics: An Investment in Pure Color

If your young artist is a history buff and a purist at heart, then Old Holland is the pinnacle. As one of the oldest paint manufacturers in the world, their colors are based on the palettes of the Dutch Masters. The pigment concentration is among the highest available, resulting in unparalleled color intensity. These paints are an investment, plain and simple.

Like the Michael Harding set, this is for the advanced, serious student. An artist needs a very skilled hand and a deep understanding of color mixing to take full advantage of what Old Holland offers. Giving this set is like handing a young, passionate chef a set of perfectly forged Japanese knives. In the right hands, they can create masterpieces; for a beginner, their potential would be entirely missed. It’s a purchase that honors a deep, proven, and lasting passion.

Matching the Set to Your Painter’s Dedication

So, how do you choose? It’s not about buying the most expensive set you can afford. It’s about meeting your child where they are in their journey and providing the right tool for their current stage of development. Don’t mistake enthusiasm for long-term dedication—that’s a classic parenting pitfall.

Use this simple framework to guide your decision:

• Curiosity (Ages 12-14): They’re just starting and showing interest. Stick with a solid student set like Winton or the Artisan Water Mixable for practicality. The goal is exploration without pressure.
• Consistency (1-2 years of practice): They’ve stuck with it and are getting better. Their teacher is impressed. It’s time to reward that effort with a step up to Gamblin 1980.
• Commitment (Portfolio building, art school goals): Painting is now part of their identity. Remove all material barriers with a professional kit like the Gamblin Artist’s Set.
• Excellence (Special achievement, pre-professional): For the truly exceptional and dedicated artist, a specialized set from Michael Harding or Old Holland is a meaningful gift that honors their craft.

Your investment should always mirror their own. By matching the equipment to their effort, you’re not just buying paint—you’re teaching them a valuable lesson about growth, dedication, and the rewards of hard work.

Remember, the best paint set is the one that gets used. Your role is to provide the opportunity and the right tools for the right time, then step back and watch their unique creativity unfold on the canvas.