overall acrylic painting
ARTEZA Acrylic Paint Set, 60 Colors
9.6
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For anyone who has stood in an art supply aisle, overwhelmed by the sheer number of paint sets, this guide is your shortcut. Whether you are a beginner, a hobbyist, or a seasoned artist looking to try a new medium, we have done the research to cut through the marketing noise. We compare the key factors that actually matter: pigment quality, color range, lightfastness, and value for money. This guide helps you decide which paint set fits your creative needs and budget without wasting a single dollar.
| # | Product | Best for | Paint Type | Colors Included | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARTEZA Acrylic Paint Set, 60 Colors | overall acrylic painting | Acrylic | 60 colors (5 metallic), 22 ml tubes | Full-palette painters | Check Price |
| 2 | Winsor and Newton Cotman Watercolor Studio Set, 45 Half Pan | overall watercolor painting | Watercolor | 45 half pans, brush and mixing tray included | Serious watercolor hobbyists | Check Price |
| 3 | Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set, 36 Colors with Brushes and Palette | all-in-one acrylic kit | Acrylic | 36 colors, 2 oz bottles, 12 brushes and palette included | Beginners wanting a complete kit | Check Price |
| 4 | Winsor and Newton Winton Oil Color Paint Set, 20 x 12ml | oil painting beginners | Oil | 20 colors, 12 ml tubes | New oil painters | Check Price |
| 5 | ARTEZA Watercolor Paint Set, 60 Colors | advanced watercolor blending | Watercolor | 60 colors, 12 ml tubes | Artists who blend and layer washes | Check Price |
| 6 | Nicpro Acrylic Paint Set, 24 Colors with Brushes and Palette | budget acrylic kit | Acrylic | 24 colors, 2 oz bottles, 12 brushes and palette included | Budget-conscious beginners | Check Price |
| 7 | Paul Rubens Oil Paint, 20 Colors, 50ml Tubes | student-grade oil upgrade | Oil | 20 colors, 50 ml tubes | Students wanting larger tubes | Check Price |
| 8 | Magicfly Acrylic Paint Set, 14 Colors, 280ml Bottles | large projects and bulk use | Acrylic | 14 colors, 280 ml bottles | Muralists and bulk painters | Check Price |
| 9 | Crayola Watercolor Paint Set, 16 Count with Brush | kids and classroom use | Watercolor | 16 pans, brush included | Kids ages 4 and up | Check Price |
| 10 | Winsor and Newton Cotman Sketchers Pocket Set, 12 Half Pan | travel and plein air sketching | Watercolor | 12 half pans, brush and tray included | Travel sketchers and journalers | Check Price |
Why we picked it: The ARTEZA Acrylic Paint Set is the best overall pick for anyone who wants a genuinely complete acrylic palette without assembling one tube at a time. It ships with 60 colors in 22 ml squeeze tubes, including 5 metallic shades, so beginners and working artists alike have primaries, secondaries, earth tones and accent colors ready to go straight out of the box. Every tube is labeled with the color name, pigment number, transparency level and lightfastness rating, which makes it easy to plan mixes and repurchase a specific shade later instead of guessing. The high-viscosity, water-based formula holds brush strokes and palette knife texture well on canvas, wood and paper, and cleans up with soap and water. Because the range is this wide, it works equally well for large canvas paintings, mixed media collage and smaller craft projects, which is why it earns the top overall spot in this guide.
Artists and hobbyists who want one complete acrylic palette that covers nearly every color need without buying separate sets.
Absolute beginners who only want to try acrylics briefly and do not yet need 60 colors.
Key specs: Acrylic - 60 colors including 5 metallics - 22 ml tubes - labeled pigment and lightfastness info - canvas, wood, paper, mixed media
Why we picked it: The Winsor and Newton Cotman Studio Set is the best overall watercolor pick because it pairs a trusted, professional-grade paint line with enough colors and format to grow with an artist for years. Forty-five half pans sit inside a compact folding case with a built-in mixing tray and a brush, so the whole kit is self-contained and ready to paint the moment it is opened. Cotman colors are formulated for high transparency and reliable lightfastness, the same qualities found in Winsor and Newton Professional watercolor range, just in a more affordable student-grade formulation. The half pan format rehydrates easily with a wet brush, making it more economical over time than tube watercolors that dry out if left uncapped. Because the case, tray, brush and 45 colors all travel together, it works equally well at a home desk or packed for a class or workshop.
Watercolor painters who want a large, professional-quality palette in one self-contained case for home or studio use.
Painters who specifically want tube watercolors for large wash work or need an ultra-compact travel case.
Key specs: Watercolor - 45 half pans - includes brush and mixing tray - Cotman student-grade formula - folding case
Why we picked it: The Shuttle Art 36 Color Acrylic Set is the best all-in-one kit on this list because it is the rare set that arrives with everything a new painter needs in a single box. Along with 36 highly pigmented colors, including metallic gold and silver, in 2 oz bottles, it includes 12 brushes and a mixing palette, so there is no separate shopping trip for basic tools. The paint itself is non-toxic and acid-free, conforming to ASTM D-4236 safety standards, which makes it a comfortable choice for teens and adults working at a shared table. Because bottles hold 2 oz rather than small tubes, the set has enough volume to cover a few full canvases before running low on core colors. For someone picking up acrylic painting as a new hobby, having paint, brushes and a palette bundled together removes the guesswork of building a kit piece by piece.
New acrylic painters who want paint, brushes and a palette bundled together in a single starter kit.
Experienced painters who already own brushes and palettes and prefer to buy paint alone in a wider color range.
Key specs: Acrylic - 36 colors including metallic gold and silver - 2 oz/60 ml bottles - includes 12 brushes and palette - ASTM D-4236 non-toxic
Why we picked it: The Winsor and Newton Winton Oil Color Set is the best starting point for anyone moving into oil painting because it uses genuine fine art pigments in an affordable student-grade line rather than a novelty craft-store oil paint. The 20 included colors cover the essential starter palette, and the stiff, buttery consistency retains visible brush and palette knife strokes better than many other student ranges, which matters for anyone learning traditional painterly technique. Because it is part of the established Winton line, it is formulated to be compatible with Winsor and Newton own solvents, mediums and additive oils, so a beginner can expand into glazing or impasto mediums later without switching brands. The 12 ml tubes are a practical size for someone still testing how much paint a session actually uses. For a first oil paint set that will not need to be immediately replaced with something more serious, this is the safest recommendation.
Beginners moving into oil painting who want a genuine fine art brand at a student-friendly price.
Painters who want a fast-drying medium or are not ready to work with solvents and mediums.
Key specs: Oil - 20 colors - 12 ml tubes - Winton student-grade fine art pigments - compatible with W&N mediums and solvents
Why we picked it: The ARTEZA 60 Color Watercolor Set is built for painters who have moved past a starter palette and want fine control over blending, layering and glazing. Sixty tube colors, spanning bright primaries, soft pastels, deep jewel tones and neutrals, give far more range than a typical half pan set, which matters when building up washes or matching a specific reference color. The tube format lets a painter squeeze out exactly the amount needed for a wash, a detail area or a gradient, and recapping keeps unused paint usable for the next session, unlike pans that can crack if left uncapped for long periods. Because there are 60 distinct colors, it suits florals, landscapes, portraits and illustration work where subtle color variation carries the image. For intermediate to advanced watercolorists who work in tubes rather than pans, this is the most complete option in this guide.
Intermediate to advanced watercolor painters who prefer tubes and want a wide range for blending and layered washes.
Beginners or travel sketchers who would be better served by a compact half pan set.
Key specs: Watercolor - 60 colors - 12 ml tubes - suited to blending, layering and gradient washes - recappable tubes
Why we picked it: The Nicpro 24 Color Acrylic Set is the best budget-friendly kit for anyone who wants a complete acrylic starting point without a large outlay. It includes 24 premium-pigment colors in 2 oz bottles alongside 12 brushes, a mixing palette and a beginner guide with a color wheel, covering paint, tools and basic color theory guidance in one purchase. The paint is certified to ASTM D-4236 non-toxic standards, making it appropriate for students, classrooms and family craft nights where safety matters as much as quality. Twenty-four colors is enough range to mix nearly any shade needed for canvas, wood, rock or fabric painting projects without feeling limited. For its price point, the combination of paint volume, included tools and a printed color guide makes it a strong first kit for new painters or gift-giving.
Budget-conscious beginners, students and gift buyers who want a complete acrylic starter kit with tools included.
Painters who already own brushes and a palette and only need paint in a larger color range.
Key specs: Acrylic - 24 colors - 2 oz/60 ml bottles - includes 12 brushes, palette and color wheel guide - ASTM D-4236 non-toxic
Why we picked it: The Paul Rubens Oil Paint Set is the pick for painters who have tried a smaller starter oil set and want to move up in both tube size and color saturation. Each of the 20 colors comes in a generous 50 ml tube, roughly four times the paint volume of a typical 12 ml starter tube, which matters once an artist starts working on larger canvases and burns through paint faster. The formula is high-saturation with a creamy, consistent texture that blends smoothly, and it is built to resist fading over time. Colors are geared toward landscape and seascape work but mix well for a broad range of subjects, and the paint remains workable for the typical 7 to 14 day oil drying window before it sets. For a student or hobbyist ready to commit more seriously to oil painting, the larger tubes reduce how often paint needs restocking.
Hobbyists and students who have outgrown a small starter oil set and want larger tubes with richer pigment saturation.
First-time oil painters who are not yet sure they will stick with the medium and want a smaller commitment.
Key specs: Oil - 20 colors - 50 ml tubes - high-saturation creamy texture - typical 7 to 14 day drying time
Why we picked it: The Magicfly 14 Color Acrylic Set is built for painters who need volume rather than a wide color range, which makes it the right choice for murals, large canvases, base-coating and other bulk projects. Each of the 14 colors, including gold and silver metallics, ships in a large 280 ml bottle, several times the volume of a standard 2 oz acrylic bottle, so a painter is not stopping mid-project to squeeze out the last drops of a core color. The paint is thick and creamy, gliding smoothly and drying quickly, and it is certified to ASTM D-4236 non-toxic standards for safe studio or classroom use. Because the palette focuses on classic and metallic shades rather than dozens of niche tones, it works best as a foundation set that a painter mixes from, rather than a set meant to have every shade pre-made. For anyone who repeatedly runs out of their most-used colors, the bulk format solves that problem directly.
Painters working on large canvases, murals or bulk projects who need high volume in their most-used colors.
Painters who want the widest possible pre-mixed color range rather than a compact core palette.
Key specs: Acrylic - 14 colors including gold and silver - 280 ml/9.47 oz bottles - ASTM D-4236 non-toxic - fast-drying formula
Why we picked it: The Crayola Watercolor Paint Set is the clear pick for parents and teachers outfitting young kids, because it is built specifically around safety, simplicity and washability rather than professional pigment quality. Sixteen assorted colors, including primary and secondary shades, come in an oval pan tray with one paint brush included, so a child ages 4 and up can start painting immediately without needing separate supplies. The washable formula is designed to come out of clothing and off skin with regular soap and water, which matters far more than lightfastness for a family or classroom setting. Crayola long track record with school supplies means the set is widely trusted by teachers for craft time, and replacement sets are easy to find if a pan runs dry. For early art education where the goal is creative exploration rather than gallery-quality results, this remains the standard choice.
Parents and teachers buying a first, washable watercolor set for kids ages 4 and up.
Teens or adults who want artist-grade pigment quality and lightfastness for serious painting.
Key specs: Watercolor - 16 colors - includes paint brush - washable formula - recommended ages 4 and up
Why we picked it: The Winsor and Newton Cotman Sketchers Pocket Set is the pick for anyone who paints outdoors or while traveling, because its entire footprint is designed to fit in a coat pocket or small bag. Twelve half pans cover a sensible starter palette, including lemon and cadmium yellows, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine, phthalo blue, viridian, sap green, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber and Chinese white, enough range to handle most plein air landscape or urban sketching scenarios. A small brush and mixing tray are built into the compact case, so nothing extra needs to be carried for a quick outdoor painting session. Because it uses the same Cotman formulation as Winsor and Newton larger studio sets, color quality and mixing behavior stay consistent if a painter later moves up to a bigger set from the same range. For sketchers and journal painters who value portability above color range, this is the most pocketable option in this guide.
Travel sketchers, journal painters and anyone who paints outdoors and needs a genuinely pocket-sized set.
Painters who need a wide color range or plan to paint primarily at a home studio desk.
Key specs: Watercolor - 12 half pans - includes brush and mixing tray - Cotman formula - compact pocket-sized case
Acrylic is generally the easiest medium for a true beginner because it dries quickly, thins and cleans up with water, and lets you paint over mistakes once a layer is dry. Watercolor is a good second choice if portability and quick studies matter more to you, though it takes more practice to control since mistakes are harder to correct. Oil paint offers the richest color blending and the longest working time, but it requires solvents, ventilation and patience with multi-day drying, so most people are better served trying acrylic or watercolor first before investing in an oil set like the Winsor and Newton Winton.
Student-grade paint, such as the Winsor and Newton Cotman and Winton lines in this guide, uses a slightly lower pigment concentration and a narrower selection of premium pigments than artist-grade paint, which keeps the price accessible while still delivering solid color and lightfastness for most painting. Artist-grade paint uses higher pigment loads and more single-pigment colors, which improves mixing purity and long-term color stability, but at a noticeably higher price per tube. Most beginners and hobbyists get excellent results from student-grade sets and only need to consider artist-grade tubes for specific colors once their technique and preferences are established.
It depends on the set. Kits like the Shuttle Art 36 Color and Nicpro 24 Color acrylic sets include brushes and a mixing palette, so you can start painting the same day without any other purchase besides a painting surface. Paint-only sets, including the ARTEZA acrylic and watercolor sets and both Winsor and Newton sets in this guide, expect you to already own or separately buy brushes, and in the case of acrylic and oil paint, a canvas, canvas board or heavy paper as well. Watercolor half pan sets like the Cotman Studio and Sketchers Pocket sets need watercolor paper rather than canvas.
The Crayola Watercolor Paint Set is the safest and most practical choice for kids ages 4 and up, since it is specifically formulated to be washable out of clothing and off skin and comes with its own brush so a child can start painting immediately. Non-toxic acrylic sets certified to ASTM D-4236, such as the Shuttle Art and Nicpro kits, are reasonable for supervised older kids and teens working on craft projects, but they are not washable in the same way and can stain fabric permanently once dry. Oil paint sets are not recommended for young children because they require solvents and much longer supervised drying and cleanup times.
Acrylic is the easiest medium for most first-time painters because it dries fast, thins and cleans up with water, and forgives mistakes since a dry layer can simply be painted over. Watercolor rewards a lighter touch and is excellent for portability and quick studies, but its transparency means mistakes are harder to hide and it takes more practice to control. Oil paint offers the richest blending and the longest working time before a layer sets, which is why serious painters gravitate toward it, but it requires solvents, proper ventilation and patience with multi-day drying. If you are unsure which medium suits you, acrylic sets like the ARTEZA or Shuttle Art kits are the lowest-friction starting point.
Every set in this guide sits in the student or mid-tier range rather than professional artist-grade lines, which is the right starting point for nearly all hobbyists and most students. Student-grade paint uses slightly less pure pigment concentration and a narrower range of premium pigments than artist-grade lines, which keeps the price accessible while still delivering good color and lightfastness, as seen in the Winsor and Newton Cotman and Winton lines. Once you have a clear sense of your favorite colors and techniques, it becomes easier to justify upgrading individual artist-grade tubes in your most-used shades rather than replacing an entire set.
If you are starting from zero, an all-in-one kit like the Shuttle Art or Nicpro acrylic sets saves a separate shopping trip by bundling brushes and a mixing palette with the paint itself. If you already paint and simply need to restock or expand your color range, a paint-only set like the ARTEZA or Magicfly options lets you put your budget entirely into pigment rather than paying again for brushes you already own. Bundled brushes are almost always entry-level quality, so plan to upgrade brushes separately once your technique develops.
Sets made for kids, such as the Crayola Watercolor Set, prioritize washability, safety and simplicity over pigment richness or lightfastness, which is exactly the right trade-off for children ages 4 and up. Adult hobbyist sets, including every acrylic, oil and artist-grade watercolor set in this guide, use stronger pigment concentration and better lightfastness, which matters for artwork meant to last or be displayed. If a child is showing real interest in painting technique rather than just craft play, a small student-grade set is a reasonable next step up from a washable kids set.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wide color range | A larger palette of 24 to 60 colors reduces how much mixing is needed to match a reference color. |
| Pigment and lightfastness labeling | Tubes labeled with pigment number and lightfastness rating make it easy to plan mixes and repurchase exact shades. |
| Included tools | Bundled brushes, a mixing palette or a mixing tray save a separate purchase for painters starting from scratch. |
| Paint format | Tubes give precise control over how much paint comes out, bottles suit bulk use, and half pans rehydrate without wasting unused paint. |
| Non-toxic and washable certification | ASTM D-4236 certification and washable formulas matter most for classrooms, kids and shared family tables. |
Every product above was scored out of 10 on the same six-part rubric, then sorted into an S to C tier. We do not accept free units or payment for placement, and price or affiliate commission never factors into the score.
| Criterion | What we check | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Core performance | The numbers that define the category: capacity, power, resolution, battery life, speed or output, taken from manufacturer specs and cross-checked against independent test data where it exists. | High |
| Build & reliability | Materials, warranty length, brand track record, and how often the model shows up in long-term failure or return complaints. | High |
| Real-world usability | Weight, dimensions, noise level, setup difficulty and day-to-day friction, drawn from owner reviews and published measurements. | Medium |
| Running cost | Ongoing costs beyond the purchase: subscriptions, consumables, energy use or maintenance, where they apply to the category. | Medium |
| Owner feedback | Patterns across aggregated verified owner reviews: recurring praise, recurring complaints, and whether the experience matches the marketing. | Medium |
| Value | What you get relative to the rest of the field at a similar price band, not an absolute price judgment. | Medium |
Sources: manufacturer spec sheets and manuals, retailer listing data, aggregated verified owner reviews, and published independent test results where available for the category.
Honesty note: We have not hands-on tested every product on this page. Where we have not personally used a product, its ranking is based on verified specs, aggregated owner feedback, availability and editorial comparison rather than a hands-on review. Hands-on impressions, when included in a product entry above, are clearly written from direct use.
We don't accept free units or payment for placement. Our rankings combine verified manufacturer specifications, real owner feedback and availability, compared on one transparent S to C rubric.