Which Painting Kit Should You Choose? A Beginner's Buying Guide

Feeling the urge to paint, but faced with a jungle of supplies, you don't know where to start? Acrylics, oils, brushes, canvases… the basic equipment can quickly seem intimidating. Don't worry, we're here to help you see things more clearly. As a product expert at Joybuy, my mission is to find practical solutions for you to start creating without getting bogged down in technical details.

Let's review the essential criteria for choosing the right beginner's paint kit and discover our selection of sets designed to get you started hassle-free.

How to Choose Your First Paint Set

Before taking the plunge, a few key points can guide your decision. Here are the three criteria to consider to find the supplies to start painting that are truly right for you.

1. Acrylic or Oil: Which Type of Paint is Best for Beginners?

This is the very first question to ask. Each medium has its own set of rules.

• Acrylic paint: This is often THE quintessential paint for beginners. Being water-based, it's very easy to dilute and clean. Its main advantage? A quick drying time that allows you to layer colours without waiting for hours. An acrylic paint set is therefore ideal for those who want to see results quickly and enjoy a hassle-free cleanup.
• Oil paint: More traditional, it consists of pigments bound with an oil. Its hallmark is its very slow drying time. Far from being a drawback, this is a quality that gives you time to work, blend colours on the canvas, and correct your mistakes with peace of mind. An oil paint kit will delight patient artists who enjoy taking the time to sculpt the medium.

2. The Essentials of a Complete Kit

A good complete paint kit should contain everything you need to start painting right out of the box. Make sure it includes at a minimum:

• Tubes of paint: A palette of basic colours (primaries, black, white) is more than enough to start and learn how to create your own shades.
• Brushes: At least two or three brushes of different shapes (one flat, one round) are necessary to vary your strokes and textural effects.
• A surface: This could be specially treated thick paper or small pre-stretched canvases.

The advantage of an all-in-one paint set? It saves you the chore of buying each item separately. A real time and money saver.

3. The Number and Variety of Colours

For a first purchase, there's no need to invest in dozens of tubes. A kit of 5 to 12 colours is an excellent starting point.

• Kits with primary colours are very educational: they force you to get hands-on and experiment with mixing to achieve the shades you want.
• Kits with a wider palette are more convenient to use, with greens, purples, or browns ready to go.

Also, consider the tube capacity (in ml). 20 ml tubes are perfect for experimenting, while 75 ml or larger formats will give you enough material to create several paintings.

Our Recommended Painting Kits

To guide you, here are three options perfectly suited for budding artists.

1. TALENS ART CREATION Oil Paint Set with Paper

What sets it apart This set is THE all-in-one solution for getting started with oil painting. It stands out by including not only paints and brushes but also a suitable surface: 15 sheets of A4 paper specially prepared for oil. The added bonus? A QR code that leads to video tutorials for step-by-step learning.

Highlights

• Truly all-in-one: Contains 12 tubes of oil paint (12 ml), 3 brushes, and specialised paper.
• Educational guidance: The QR code provides access to videos to support you in your first works.
• A forgiving paint: The slow drying time of oil is ideal for learning to blend colours and correct your work without stress.

Who is it for? This kit is perfect for beginners curious about oil painting who are looking for a guided experience and a 100% ready-to-use set.

2. CLAIREFONTAINE DFY Primary Acrylic Paint Set - 5 x 75 ml

What sets it apart This acrylic paint set gets straight to the point: colour. It offers five fundamental shades in generous 75 ml tubes. A pragmatic approach, ideal for those who want to practice colour mixing intensively without running out of paint.

Highlights

• Generous quantity: The 75 ml tubes provide an excellent supply to tackle multiple projects.
• Perfect for learning to mix: The primary colour palette is ideal for understanding and mastering colour theory.
• Pleasant texture: Clairefontaine promises a creamy consistency and a satin finish, easy to apply with a brush or a palette knife.

Who is it for? This set is for beginners who want to focus on the art of mixing and prefer to choose their brushes and surfaces separately.

3. CLAIREFONTAINE DFY Acrylic Paint Set - 10 x 20 ml

What sets it apart This alternative to the previous set focuses on variety, with 10 ready-to-use colours in a more compact format. This allows you to explore a wider palette from the start, without having to do all the mixing yourself.

Highlights

• 10-colour palette: Greater creative freedom with secondary and tertiary shades already included.
• Portable format: The 20 ml tubes are easy to store and transport, perfect for painting anywhere or for small-scale projects.
• Intense colours: Clairefontaine's promise: highly concentrated pigments for deep colours and good longevity.

Who is it for? Ideal for beginners who want a varied range of colours on hand, or for those with limited workspace or storage.

Looking for Other Options?

Starting to paint is a personal journey. If our selection hasn't completely won you over, or if you're simply curious to discover other types of supplies, feel free to browse our complete category of blank art materials to explore a much wider range of paints, canvases, brushes, and accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest paint for a beginner?

Acrylic paint is often recommended for its simplicity: it dries quickly, cleans up with water, and has almost no odour. However, oil paint shouldn't be dismissed: its slow drying time gives you plenty of time to rework your canvas. Ultimately, the choice will depend on your patience and your project.

Should I start on canvas or paper?

Both are great for starting out. Thick paper treated for paint (acrylic or oil) is a budget-friendly solution, perfect for practice and experiments. A stretched canvas offers a more traditional feel and a durable support, ready to be displayed. Some beginner kits include one or the other.

How many colours should be in a first paint set?

A paint set of 5 to 12 colours is more than enough to get started. A set with the three primary colours (red, yellow, blue), plus black and white, is sufficient to create an infinite number of shades through mixing. Larger sets simply offer more convenience with ready-to-use colours.