Best Brands of Oil Paints – Top Picks for Artists in 2025
Whether you’re a professional painter, an art student, or a passionate hobbyist, the quality of your oil paints can make or break your work. With so many brands on the market each claiming to offer rich pigments and perfect consistency it can be overwhelming to find the right one. The best brands of oil paints available in 2025, helping you choose the perfect tools to elevate your artistic expression.
We’ll break down the top oil paint brands by quality, pigment strength, texture, price, and best use case. From student-friendly options to high-end, museum-quality paints, we’ve got every artist covered.
Why Choosing the Right Oil Paint Brand Matters
Oil painting is a medium that demands patience, precision, and practice but the materials you use matter just as much. Here’s why the brand of oil paint you choose is critical:
- Pigment Load: Higher-quality brands use more pure pigment and less filler, offering vibrant, lasting colors.
- Consistency: A smooth, buttery consistency gives you better control, layering, and texture.
- Longevity: Professional-grade paints last longer, both on your palette and on the canvas.
- Drying Time: Different brands offer varying drying times based on oil content—this affects your workflow.
10 Best Brands of Oil Paints in 2025
Here’s a curated list of the top oil paint brands this year, based on reviews, performance, pigment quality, and value.
| Brand | Type | Grade | Country | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winsor & Newton Artists’ Oil Colour | Professional | Artist-grade | UK | Versatility & tradition |
| Old Holland Classic Oil Colours | Professional | Artist-grade | Netherlands | Historical & museum-quality work |
| Gamblin Artist’s Oil Colors | Professional | Artist-grade | USA | Modern formulation, safety-focused |
| Michael Harding Oil Paints | Professional | Artist-grade | UK | Maximum pigment load |
| Sennelier Extra-Fine Oils | Professional | Artist-grade | France | Luminous, buttery texture |
| Rembrandt Oils by Royal Talens | Professional | Artist-grade | Netherlands | Balance of quality & value |
| Williamsburg Handmade Oils | Professional | Artist-grade | USA | Hand-milled texture & vibrancy |
| Holbein Duo Aqua Oil Colors | Water-mixable | Professional | Japan | Oil feel, water clean-up |
| Van Gogh Oil Colors | Student/Studio | Student-grade | Netherlands | Budget-friendly, reliable |
| Grumbacher Pre-Tested Oils | Studio | Mid-grade | USA | Beginners & intermediate artists |
1. Winsor & Newton Artists’ Oil Colour
Why It’s Great: A staple among traditional and professional painters.
Winsor & Newton has been a respected name since 1832. Their Artists’ Oil Colour line is known for consistency, permanence, and vibrant pigmentation. It offers an excellent balance between quality and price.
- Pigment Load: High
- Drying Time: Moderate
- Price Range: Moderate to premium
- Best For: Versatile artists, educators, and long-time professionals
2. Old Holland Classic Oil Colours
Why It’s Great: One of the oldest and purest oil paints in the world.
Old Holland’s paints are renowned for their unmatched pigment saturation and buttery texture. Founded in 1664, they still use traditional recipes and hand-grind their paints.
- Pigment Load: Extremely high
- Drying Time: Slow
- Price Range: Premium
- Best For: Fine art professionals, restorers, and serious traditionalists
3. Gamblin Artist’s Oil Colors
Why It’s Great: Eco-conscious and artist-friendly.
Gamblin blends traditional oil paint craftsmanship with a modern approach to health and safety. Their line offers excellent pigment clarity, a wide range of colors, and a lower-toxicity formula.
- Pigment Load: High
- Drying Time: Moderate
- Price Range: Moderate
- Best For: Environmentally conscious artists, studio painters
4. Michael Harding Artists’ Oil Colours
Why It’s Great: Maximum pigment concentration, no fillers.
Michael Harding is a small UK-based manufacturer that’s gained global popularity for producing incredibly pure and powerful paints. Each tube is loaded with pigment and very little binder.
- Pigment Load: Extremely high
- Drying Time: Varies by pigment
- Price Range: Premium
- Best For: Advanced painters, detail work, historical realism
5. Sennelier Extra-Fine Oil Paint
Why It’s Great: Creamy, luminous, and rich in tradition.
Used by Picasso and Cézanne, Sennelier’s oils are made with safflower oil and a high pigment-to-oil ratio, resulting in a creamy, soft consistency and long-lasting brilliance.
- Pigment Load: High
- Drying Time: Slightly slower (safflower oil base)
- Price Range: Moderate to high
- Best For: Color blending, expressive strokes, European-style painting
6. Rembrandt Oil Colours by Royal Talens
Why It’s Great: A solid balance between premium quality and affordability.
These paints are easy to work with, highly pigmented, and very reliable. They’re a good fit for artists who want artist-grade materials without going ultra-premium.
- Pigment Load: High
- Drying Time: Moderate
- Price Range: Moderate
- Best For: Artists upgrading from student to professional-level paints
7. Williamsburg Handmade Oil Colors
Why It’s Great: Texture-rich, hand-milled authenticity.
Known for their hand-milled process, Williamsburg oils provide excellent body and visible texture. Ideal for impasto techniques and thick applications.
- Pigment Load: Very high
- Drying Time: Slow to moderate
- Price Range: Premium
- Best For: Textural painters, plein air, color enthusiasts
8. Holbein Duo Aqua Oil
Why It’s Great: Water-mixable but performs like real oil.
Holbein’s Duo Aqua line is a revolutionary take on oil paints, allowing you to skip solvents altogether. They blend and feel like traditional oils but clean up with water.
- Pigment Load: High
- Drying Time: Fast for oils
- Price Range: Moderate
- Best For: Artists with health sensitivities, small studios, shared spaces
9. Van Gogh Oil Colors
Why It’s Great: Budget-friendly and beginner-approved.
Made by Royal Talens, this line provides great quality for the price. While it doesn’t compare to pro-grade brands, it’s perfect for students and hobbyists.
- Pigment Load: Moderate
- Drying Time: Quick
- Price Range: Low
- Best For: Learning oil techniques, art students
10. Grumbacher Pre-Tested Professional Oils
Why It’s Great: Affordable and available in the U.S.
This American brand has built a reputation for offering solid, reliable performance for intermediate artists. Not the richest in pigment, but very workable.
- Pigment Load: Medium
- Drying Time: Quick to moderate
- Price Range: Affordable
- Best For: Beginner-intermediate artists, budget studios
How to Choose the Best Oil Paint Brand for You
Skill Level
- Beginner: Van Gogh, Grumbacher
- Intermediate: Rembrandt, Gamblin
- Professional: Old Holland, Michael Harding, Williamsburg
Pigment Quality
Look for brands that use single pigments, which mix cleaner and retain color vibrancy.
Oil Binder Type
- Linseed Oil: Most common, fast drying
- Safflower Oil: Less yellowing, slower drying
- Poppy Oil: Very slow drying, best for whites/light colors
Budget
Premium oils are worth it if you’re selling or exhibiting your art. For practice or studies, mid-range brands are sufficient.
Application Style
- Impasto/Textured: Williamsburg, Michael Harding
- Glazing/Detailing: Sennelier, Winsor & Newton
- Expressive Blending: Gamblin, Rembrandt
10 Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s the difference between student-grade and artist-grade oil paint?
Student-grade paint has less pigment and more filler, which results in lower color intensity and coverage.
2. Which oil paint brand is best for beginners?
Van Gogh and Grumbacher offer reliable, affordable options for those just starting out.
3. Are expensive oil paints worth it?
Yes. Artist-grade paints like Old Holland and Michael Harding offer better pigment, longevity, and handling—important for serious work.
4. Can you mix brands of oil paints?
Yes, most oil paints are compatible across brands, but textures and drying times may vary.
5. What brand do professionals use?
Professionals often prefer Old Holland, Michael Harding, and Williamsburg due to their superior pigment load and finish.
6. Do oil paints expire?
Properly stored oil paints can last decades. If the tube isn’t hardened or separated beyond repair, it’s still usable.
7. What oil paint is best for portraits?
Sennelier and Gamblin are excellent for skin tones and soft blending in portraits.
8. Which brand is best for water-mixable oil painting?
Holbein Duo Aqua Oil is widely regarded as the best water-mixable oil paint line.
9. Where can I buy professional oil paints?
Art supply stores, online retailers like Blick Art Materials, Jackson’s Art, and Jerry’s Artarama carry all major brands.
10. Are handmade oil paints better?
Handmade paints like Williamsburg offer unique textures and intense pigments but require a higher budget.
Final Thoughts – Invest in Quality, Elevate Your Art
Choosing from the best brands of oil paints depends on your artistic goals, skill level, and budget. Whether you’re drawn to the historical prestige of Old Holland or the environmentally conscious formula of Gamblin, using high-quality paints ensures a better painting experience—and better final results.
Take your time to test a few tubes, mix colors, and feel the difference. After all, the right tools can unlock the full potential of your creativity.
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