Choosing a paint set means deciding between fast-drying acrylics that layer quickly and slow-drying oils that allow days of blending — and every beginner faces the same core question: do you want to finish a painting in one sitting or spend a week blending a single sky? The wrong decision wastes money on colors that dry chalky or tubes that run out halfway through a project. The right set delivers creamy pigment, sufficient volume, and tools that actually hold up to repeated use.
I’m Min — the co-founder and writer behind Gadgets Feed. I’ve spent dozens of hours analyzing pigment density, tube volume, brush quality, and surface compatibility across dozens of acrylic and oil painting kits to separate the starter-friendly bundles from the ones that leave you frustrated.
Whether you are buying for a curious child, a weekend hobbyist, or a serious student of the craft, this guide breaks down the strongest kits in the market to help you find the best art painting supplies for your skill level and preferred medium.
How To Choose The Best Art Painting Supplies
The right painting kit depends entirely on the medium you choose — acrylic or oil — and the volume of paint you need to finish a project. Beginners often buy the cheapest multicolor set, then discover the paint is translucent, the brushes shed bristles, and the 12 ml tubes run out after two sessions. A well-chosen kit solves all three problems at once.
Acrylic vs. Oil: Which Medium Fits Your Workflow?
Acrylic paint is water-based, dries in 15 to 30 minutes, and layers quickly — ideal for artists who want to finish a canvas in one sitting or work with children who lack patience. Oil paint stays wet for days, allows soft blending of edges, and delivers richer color saturation, but requires solvents like turpentine unless you buy a water-mixable variant. Beginners should start with acrylics unless they specifically want the extended blending window that only oil provides.
Tube Volume and Color Count
A 12 ml tube covers roughly 10 to 15 square inches of solid color depending on opacity. Kits with 24 or 36 colors sound impressive, but the real value comes from total volume — a 36-color set with 12 ml tubes gives you 432 ml of paint, while a 14-color set with 250 ml bottles gives you 3,500 ml. For pour painting and large canvases, fewer colors with bigger bottles win every time. For palette mixing and color theory practice, more tubes with smaller volumes make sense.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle Art 66 Pack | Acrylic Set | Complete Beginner Kits | 30 Colors + Wooden Easel | Amazon |
| Chalkola 56 Pcs | Acrylic Set | High Pigment Variety | 32 Paints x 22 ml | Amazon |
| Mont Marte 36 Color Oil | Oil Set | Water-Mixable Oils | 36 x 18 ml Tubes | Amazon |
| MyArtscape 24 Color Oil | Oil Set | Entry-Level Oil Painting | 24 x 21 ml Tubes | Amazon |
| Nicpro Pour Paint Kit | Fluid Acrylics | Acrylic Pouring Art | 14 x 250 ml Bottles | Amazon |
| Colorful Acrylic Painting Kit | Acrylic Set | Budget-Friendly Bundle | 24 Colors + Wood Easel | Amazon |
| 59pcs Acrylic Paint Set | Acrylic Set | Kids & Young Beginners | Apron + Color Wheel Guide | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Shuttle Art 66 Pack Acrylic Paint Set
The Shuttle Art 66-pack hits the sweet spot between tool count and paint volume. You get 30 colors at 12 ml each, a foldable wooden easel, 12 brushes, 5 painting knives, 12 canvas panels of varying sizes, two mixing palettes, a water bucket, two sponges, and a waterproof apron. For the price, this is the most complete starter kit in the acrylic category — you do not need to buy anything else to begin painting.
The paints are certified non-toxic under ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3, making them safe for kids aged eight and up. The brushes and knives hold up to repeated cleaning, and the canvas selection lets a beginner practice on small boards before committing to a larger stretched canvas. The foldable easel is lightweight but stable enough for tabletop use.
Advanced painters may want larger tube volumes — 12 ml runs out fast when covering a 16-by-20-inch canvas — but for anyone assembling their first real studio kit, this set covers every base. The reusable components, from the mixing palettes to the easel, deliver long-term value that cheaper single-session kits cannot match.
Why it’s great
- 66-piece bundle includes everything from easel to apron
- Non-toxic certification makes it safe for young artists
- Reusable wooden easel and palettes add long-term value
Good to know
- 12 ml tubes are small for large-format paintings
- Natural wood easel may have slight rough edges
2. Chalkola 56 Pcs Acrylic Paint Set
Chalkola offers 32 tubes of 22 ml paint — nearly double the volume per color compared to standard 12 ml kits. That additional volume matters when you are mixing large background washes or using heavy body applications. The set also includes ten canvas boards across three sizes, ten brushes, a tabletop easel, a palette, a painting knife, and a sponge.
The canvas panels are 100 percent cotton prepped with acid-free titanium gesso, mounted on MDF to prevent warping. That is a meaningful upgrade over flimsy paper pads that buckle under wet acrylic. The 22 ml tubes are arranged in separate cardboard boxes for tidy storage, and the paints are certified under ASTM D-4236 and EN71 for safety.
Artists who paint frequently will appreciate that they do not run out of titanium white or burnt umber after three sessions. The brush selection includes flat, round, and filbert shapes suitable for detail work and broad strokes alike. For the money, this is the strongest per-milliliter value in the acrylic set category.
Why it’s great
- 22 ml tubes offer nearly double the standard volume
- Cotton canvas panels on MDF resist warping
- Includes a paint knife for texture work
Good to know
- Tabletop easel is basic and not height-adjustable
- No stretched canvas included — only boards
3. Mont Marte 36 Color Water-Mixable Oil Paint Set
Mont Marte’s water-mixable oil set eliminates the single biggest barrier to oil painting: the need for turpentine or mineral spirits. You can thin these paints with up to 25 percent water and clean brushes with soap and water. The set contains 36 colors in 18 ml tubes, delivering a broad palette that covers earth tones, primaries, and several convenience hues like sap green and burnt sienna.
The satin finish is less glossy than traditional oil paints, but the body is thick and buttery — similar to a soft oil paint that holds brush marks well. The paints mix easily with traditional oil mediums like linseed oil if you prefer a glossier sheen. Color labels on the tubes are printed very small, which some reviewers noted as a minor frustration when searching for a specific tube mid-painting.
For artists who want the extended open time of oil paint — hours of blendable working time versus 20 minutes with acrylics — without the respiratory hazard of solvents, this set is the best entry point on the market. The 18 ml tubes are generous enough for several small-to-medium paintings before needing a replacement.
Why it’s great
- Dilutes and cleans up with water — no solvents needed
- 36-color palette includes a wide range of hues
- Thick, buttery consistency holds brush marks well
Good to know
- Color labels on tubes are tiny and hard to read
- Satin finish is less glossy than traditional oil
4. MyArtscape 24 Color Oil Paint Set
MyArtscape offers 21 ml tubes — 75 percent more paint per tube than the standard 12 ml size — making this the best per-milliliter value in the oil paint category. The 24-color set covers essential hues with high opacity and a glossy finish. The paints are lightfast, meaning the colors resist fading over years of display.
Beginners will find the consistency smooth and spreadable straight from the tube, though some painters noted the paint can be thinned easily with gamsol without losing pigment strength. The tubes do not last forever for large-scale works, but for small-to-medium canvases the volume is generous. Several reviewers reported buying this set multiple times, which is a strong signal of consistent quality.
The main trade-off is the lack of a carrying case or box — the tubes ship in a cardboard sleeve that is not designed for long-term storage. Artists who want a portable kit should invest in a separate storage box. For home studio use, however, this set delivers professional-grade pigmentation at an accessible price point.
Why it’s great
- 21 ml tubes provide 75% more paint than standard sets
- Lightfast pigments resist fading over time
- Smooth, buttery consistency ideal for blending
Good to know
- No storage case — tubes come in a cardboard sleeve
- Not ideal for very large canvases without replacing tubes
5. Nicpro 14 Colors Acrylic Pour Paint Kit
Acrylic pour painting requires paint with a specific viscosity — thin enough to flow across a canvas but thick enough to hold pigment in suspension. Nicpro sells its 14-color kit with 250 ml bottles of pre-mixed high-flow paint that already has the pouring medium incorporated. You simply shake and pour — no measuring, no separate medium, no guesswork.
The kit includes metallic gold and silver alongside 12 classic colors, plus two ounces of silicone oil to create cell effects. Tools include mixing sticks, pipettes, a palette knife, a dotting pen, a zigzag tool, pouring strainers, disposable gloves, and a tablecloth. Three canvas panels and two wood slices provide immediate surfaces to practice on.
The 14-color limit is the obvious constraint — pour artists who want custom tints will need to mix their own hues. But for beginners learning the flip-cup, swipe, and dirty-pour techniques, this kit removes all the setup friction. The pre-mixed consistency reliably produces smooth cells without the paint splitting or cracking during drying.
Why it’s great
- Pre-mixed high-flow paint eliminates pouring-medium guesswork
- Large 250 ml bottles provide many sessions of use
- Includes silicone oil and tools for cell effects
Good to know
- Limited to 14 colors — mixing required for custom shades
- Instructions could be more detailed for absolute beginners
6. Colorful Acrylic Painting Kit
The Colorful brand delivers a 75-piece kit that includes 24 acrylic paint tubes at 12 ml each, 30 brushes, five canvases, a canvas pad, two palettes, two sponges, and a wooden easel. For artists on a tight budget, this is the most piece-dense kit available — the sheer number of brushes alone justifies the cost.
The paints are certified non-toxic under ASTM D4236 and dry to a waterproof, glossy finish. The 12 ml tubes are small — you will run through white and black quickly — and the canvases are modestly sized. But for a child exploring painting for the first time, or an adult wanting to test acrylics without a large investment, this kit provides enough variety to determine whether the hobby sticks.
The 30 brushes cover multiple sizes and shapes, though the bristles are not professional grade — expect some shedding over time. The wooden easel is basic but functional for tabletop use. The kit ships in a colorful box that makes it a ready-to-gift option for birthdays or holidays.
Why it’s great
- 75 pieces offer the highest brush and tool count at this price
- Non-toxic and waterproof after curing
- Gift-ready box packaging
Good to know
- 12 ml tubes are small — white and black run out fast
- Brush bristles may shed with frequent use
7. 59pcs Acrylic Paint Set for Kids
This set is engineered specifically for children ages five to twelve, with short-handled brushes that fit small grips, a protective apron with sleeves, and a color wheel guide that teaches basic mixing theory. The 24 acrylic paints are washable — they clean off skin and clothing with soap and water, which is the single most important feature for parents.
The kit includes a solid beech wood easel that requires no assembly, ten standard brushes, three sponge brushes for texture effects, four 8×10 canvas panels, three 5×7 panels, one 8×10 stretched canvas, a 10-page canvas pad, a palette, and the color wheel. The carrying case keeps everything organized and portable for trips or classroom use.
The paints are acrylic, which means they will stain fabric if left to dry — the apron mitigates this, but parents should still cover work surfaces. The 12 ml tubes are sufficient for a child’s small projects, and the sponge brushes add a playful textural element that keeps young artists engaged. For a first serious painting kit that grows with the child, this set balances safety, creativity, and value.
Why it’s great
- Washable paints and included apron reduce mess stress
- Short-handled brushes are easier for small children to control
- Color wheel guide teaches color mixing fundamentals
Good to know
- Acrylic still stains fabric if not washed immediately
- 12 ml tubes are small for repeat painting sessions
FAQ
Can I mix water-mixable oil paint with traditional oil paint?
How do I make acrylic pour paint at home if I buy a standard kit?
Are all kid-marketed paint sets non-toxic by default?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most users, the best art painting supplies winner is the Shuttle Art 66 Pack because it delivers a complete acrylic studio in one box — 30 colors, a real wooden easel, 12 brushes, and multiple canvas sizes — at a price that leaves room for buying additional paint. If you want the extended blending time of oil paint without the hassle of solvents, grab the Mont Marte 36 Color Water-Mixable Oil Set. And for acrylic pouring artists who want pre-mixed high-flow paint at a generous volume, nothing beats the Nicpro 14 Color Pour Kit.