Choosing oil colours is easier when you start small. A limited palette teaches mixing, keeps costs down and gives harmonious results. This article suggests a starter set and explains how to build on it.
What is oil paint used for?
Oil paint is used for fine art painting, portraits, landscapes, still life and more, thanks to its slow drying and rich color. It is a traditional medium for painting on canvas, panel and prepared paper. If you are starting out, see our guide to getting started with oil painting.
A simple starter palette
A common beginner set uses:
- Titanium white for lightening.
- Ultramarine blue, a deep blue.
- A red, such as cadmium red or a transparent alternative like a quinacridone-type red.
- A yellow, such as cadmium yellow light or lemon yellow.
- Burnt umber (optional), a brown useful for underpainting and darkening.
With these you can mix a wide range of colors. Some painters add a black, though many prefer mixing darks from blue and brown.
Warm and cool versions
Choosing one warm and one cool version of each primary gives more mixing range. For example, a warm yellow and a cool lemon yellow behave differently in greens. Start simple, then add as you notice gaps.
Mixing basics
For a deeper look at hue, value, saturation and temperature, see oil painting color theory and mixing basics.
- Mix on the palette with a knife.
- Add dark colors to light ones in small amounts, since dark pigments are strong.
- To lower intensity, add a small amount of the opposite color on the color wheel.
- Keep a clean area of the palette for each mix.
Student or artist grade?
Either works for practice. Artist-grade paints tend to give cleaner, stronger mixes at higher cost. See oil paint reviews for how to compare.
Handle pigments with care
Some pigments, including cadmiums and cobalts, call for good hygiene. Keep paint off your skin where possible and wash up afterwards. More on this in working with oil paint.
Water-mixable oils
These are oil paints formulated to thin and clean with water. Some beginners like them for easier cleanup, though they behave a little differently from traditional oils.
Cleaning up between colors
Wipe your brush on a rag between colors to keep mixes clean, and clean thoroughly at the end of the session. Our guide to cleaning oil painting brushes has the steps.
Putting the palette to use
Try painting a simple still life with only this palette and see how far it goes. The oil painting method shows how to build such a study from underpainting to final layer. For more ideas, see beginner oil painting tips, and for a complete shopping list, the materials checklist.