Everything you need to paint with oil
Here’s a list of everything you need to start oil painting, with links to products and a printable PDF. To learn more about oil painting supplies, check out my FREE Gathering Your Supplies Lesson.
Sarah’s Oil Painting Supply List
Oil Paint
You’ll need a set of tube colors for painting black-and-white values, and another set for painting with a full-color, 3-primary palette.
If you’re new to painting, buy exactly what I recommend below. If you’re more experienced, feel free to swap in your preferred colors. I recommend both Gamblin and M. Graham paint — always professional grade (not student grade).
Black-and-white (value) palette:
Titanium White (Gamblin or M. Graham) — 1x - 150 mL tube
Ultramarine Blue (Gamblin) — 1× - 150 mL tube
Burnt Sienna (Gamblin or M. Graham) — 1× - 150 mL tube
alternatives: any dark neutral color or black
Full-color (3-primary) palette:
Titanium White (Gamblin or M. Graham) — 1× - 150 mL tube
Cadmium Lemon (Gamblin) — 1× - 150 mL tube
alternatives: Cadmium Yellow Light (Gamblin) or Cadmium-free Lemon (Winsor & Newton)
Pyrrol Red (M. Graham) — 2× - 37ml tube
Ultramarine Blue (Gamblin) — 1× - 150 mL tube
alternative: Phthalo Blue (Gamblin)
Mediums
You need one lean medium and one fat medium plus some small containers to store them.
Lean medium: Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits — 1× - 16 oz (or bigger) container
non-toxic alternative: Chelsea Classical Studio Lean Medium
Fat medium: Safflower Oil (Gamblin) — 1× - 8 oz
alternatives: Walnut Oil (M. Graham) or Refined Linseed Oil (Gamblin)
small glass containers — to store clean solvent and oil
Brushes
Get at least four hog bristle brushes in a variety of sizes, either all flats or all filberts (or one of each). Pick from one of my favorite brands below or choose your own.
Raphael D’Artigny Hogs — These are the most expensive, but the nicest and longest lasting brushes. I love them so much.
Flats — 1x - small (size 8), 1x - medium (size 12), 1x - large (size 16), 1x - XL (size 20)
Filberts — 1x - small (size 8), 1x - medium (size 12), 1x - large (size 16), 1x - XL (size 20)
Robert Simmons Signet Hogs — These are much less expensive than the Raphael brushes, and they’re nice to work with — but they aren’t as long-lasting.
Flats — 1x - small (size 4), 1x - medium (size 6), 1x - large (size 8), 1x - XL (size 10)
Filberts — 1x - small (size 4), 1x - medium (size 6), 1x - large (size 8), 1x - XL (size 10)
Optional extras
Silver Brush Bristlon (bright, size 2) — my favorite detail brush
A rubber clay angle chisel or a liner brush (size 0) — for signing paintings
Canvases
To complete my lessons, all you need is one pack of pre-primed cotton canvas sheets, some tape, and a board to tape your loose sheets to.
Cotton canvas sheets — 1 pack (size 9x12 or 12x16).
If you want a more luxurious canvas, try these Raymar panels and Masterpiece gallery-wrapped canvases.
White craft tape — here’s a cheap option and here’s a nice option.
Easel board or any sturdy drawing board — This one is good if you want a larger size. I like these 12x12 masonite panels for using with 9x12 canvas sheets. Whichever you choose, make sure it’s large enough to support your loose canvas sheets.
Palette
I recommend a glass palette in white or gray, at least 12x16 in size. You’ll also want a palette box (optional, but highly recommended) and at least two palette knives. A cotton ball with clove oil can help keep your paint fresh.
Glass palette — 1× - gray or white (size 12x16 or larger)
alternative: check out One Day Glass (or similar) for a custom cut piece
Palette knives — 2x - Blick (size large spade) is my preference
Masterson palette box (optional) — 1x (size 12x16)
Clove oil on a cotton ball (optional)
Cleaning Supplies
You’ll need solvent, soap, and a cleaning tank for cleaning your brushes. You’ll need shop towels and baby wipes for cleaning up while you’re painting.
Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits — 1x - 16oz or larger
non-toxic alternative: Chelsea Classical Studio's brush cleaner
baby wipes — at least 1 pack
blue shop towels — 3+ rolls
Studio Supplies
There are a variety of things you’ll want or need for a functional painting space — like an easel, lights, and storage. If you’d like a deeper dive on creating a practical setup, review the Designing your Painting Space lesson. Below is my short list, with recommendations linked.
Easel — ideally an H-frame easel like this, but use what you prefer or have already.
Palette table — something sturdy, waist-high. This is a good option.
Light for your easel — there are several possibilities, but you only need one solution.
Supply storage — next to your palette table. I like a supply cart that rolls around
Still life table — the best is something you already have.
Clamp light and light bulb — to light your still life
Shadow box (optional) — depends on your lighting setup, but you can make one yourself with a shipping box or some foam board.
Sketching Supplies
For completing my black-and-white sketching lessons.
pencil and eraser — any kind; doesn’t have to be fancy
white paper — any kind; doesn’t have to be fancy
a way to trace or transfer images — I like to use carbon paper
white acrylic paint pen OR white out — I like Posca paint pens (size PC-5M)
grayscale markers (optional):
Other Miscellaneous Supplies
Value scale — Get my Value Card. If you prefer a different one, laminate it either with shipping tape, professional lamination, or put it inside a clear plastic bag.
Viewfinder — to explore crops and placement of your subject on your canvas
Handheld mirror (optional) — any size or shape
Tube wringer (optional) — gets every last drop of paint from your tubes