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Tools I Always Use for Oil and Acrylic Painting
24
items I paint with both oil and acrylic paints on a variety of surfaces. These are my favorite supplies.
Sections
6
Acrylic Paints
Oil Paint
Mixed media papers
Canvas
Brushes
Miscellaneous Tools
Acrylic Paints
These are my favorite artist grade acrylic paints. I recommend them for both beginners and experienced painters.
For the price, Blick Artists Acrylics are great. You can buy in sets or just order your favorite colors. Affiliate link
Blick Artists Acrylic Paints and Sets
These are amazing paints. Though more expensive than other acrylic paints, their brilliance is the best. I use them when I want an especially dazzling color. Affiliate link
Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint and Sets
I love these paints when I am painting outside because they don’t dry as fast as regular acrylics. Affiliate link
Golden Open Acrylic Paints and Sets
These are generally high quality paints and I love to use them. Affiliate link
Liquitex Professional Heavy Body Acrylic Paints and Sets
Oil Paint
I use a variety of professional grade oil paints. These are my favorites. I recommend them for both beginning and experienced painters.
These are great oil paints for the price. You can buy sets or just your favorite colors. Affiliate link
Utrecht Artists Oil Paints and Sets
These are great paints, but by far my favorite is the Titanium White Alkyd Rapid Dry. I always buy this white in a large tube because it doesn’t take as long to dry as most other white oil paints. Affiliate link
M Graham Artists Oil Paints and Sets
These were the first professional grade oil paints I used and I still like them a lot. Affiliate link
Grumbacher PreTested Artists Oil Paints and Sets
These are great paints, but a little more expensive than others. I like that they offer colors that I can’t find anywhere else. When I want to treat myself, I buy myself a tube. Affiliate link
Gamblin Artists Oil Paints and Sets
I like these water mixable oil paints when I do Plein Aire painting because of the easy cleanup. Affiliate link
Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paints and Sets
Mixed media papers
What artist doesn’t need paper? I use a lot of mixed media paper. These are my favorites.
This is a flexible surface. At 98 lb I have used pencils, watercolor paint, ink, acrylic paints and mediums without any issues. Affiliate link
Canson XL Mixed Media Pads
I like it this 80 lb mixed media paper for practice and playing around, but wouldn’t recommend it for your best projects. Affiliate link
Blick Studio Mixed Media Pads
This is one of my favorite papers. It is a hefty 184 lb mixed media paper that can handle a lot of abuse! Affiliate link
Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Pads
I have a friend who uses this paper for her watercolor figure paintings. At 108 lb it offers a lot for the price and I can’t wait to get one of my own. Affiliate link
Fabriano Studio Mixed Media Fat Pad
Canvas
I love to paint on canvas, both stretched and canvas boards. These are my favorites.
These are my go to stretched canvas. Good quality for the price. Affiliate link
Blick Studio Stretched Cotton Canvas
These are good canvases for practicing your skills because they are of good quality for the price. Affiliate link
Blick Super Value Canvas Packs
I love the small panels for quick studies and Plein Aire painting. Pretty good for the price. I usually don’t buy anything larger than 6x8. Affiliate link
Blick Studio Cotton Canvas Panels and Packs
Brushes
Every artist needs good brushes. These are my favorites.
These are my favorite acrylic brushes. I have used them for years. They come in many sizes and shapes. Affiliate link
Silver Brush Bristlon Synthetic Brushes and Sets
Love these brushes for oil painting. You can buy sets or individual brushes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Affiliate link
Blick Masterstroke Interlocking Bristle Brushes and Sets
I like these brushes for painting details. I use them with both oils and acrylics. Affiliate link
Blick Masterstroke Golden Taklon Brushes
Miscellaneous Tools
These are various tools that find useful in my painting practice.
These are great palette knives. I use them for both oils and acrylics. Affiliate link
Blick Palette Knives by RGM
I don’t use a lot of turpentine, but this works well with oils for underpainting and sketching. Affiliate link
Winsor & Newton Distilled Turpentine | BLICK Art Materials
I use mineral spirits to do an initial cleaning of my oil brushes followed by plain old soap and water. Affiliate link
Klean Strip 32-fl oz Fast To Dissolve Odorless Mineral Spirits
I love these disposable palettes. I use them with both oils and acrylics. Affiliate link
Blick Studio Disposable Palette Pads
I use this palette when doing Plein Aire painting with acrylics and water soluble oil paints. Affiliate link
Masterson StaWet Handy Palette