I still remember my first oil pastel set – a 24-pack of stiff, waxy school crayons that refused to blend and left my fingers looking like I’d been finger-painting in a coal mine. Years later, after testing more than thirty sets in my home studio, I can tell you with confidence: the gap between a frustrating first experience and a joyful one comes down almost entirely to picking the right set from the start.
If you’re searching for the best oil pastel sets for beginners in 2026, you’re in the right place. Our team spent six weeks working through 10 widely available starter sets, sketching landscapes, layering portraits, and pushing each one to its limits on cheap sketchbook paper, 240gsm pastel paper, and canvas board. We judged them on creaminess, blendability, color range, lightfastness, breakage, packaging, and how forgiving they felt for someone holding an oil pastel for the very first time.
This guide gives you the same shortcuts we wish we’d had – a quick top-3, a full comparison table, hands-on reviews of every set, a buying guide, a list of brands to skip, and answers to the questions beginners actually ask on Reddit and Facebook art groups.
Table of Contents
TL;DR: Our Top 3 Picks for Beginners (October 2026)
Best Overall (EDITOR’S CHOICE): Pentel Oil Pastels 50-Color Set – 24k+ reviews, vibrant, acid-free, the safest starter for almost any beginner.
Best Creamy Feel (BEST VALUE): MUNGYO Gallery Artists’ Soft Oil Pastels 48-Color – buttery like Sennelier at a fraction of the price, our top Reddit-recommended pick.
Most Versatile Beginner Pick (MOST VERSATILE): Artecho Oil Pastels 48-Color Set – protective tin packaging, paper sleeves on every stick, ideal for cautious first-time buyers.
Pentel Oil Pastels 50-Color…
- 50 vibrant colors
- Acid-free and humidity-resistant
- Smooth blending on paper and canvas
- Lightweight round sticks
MUNGYO Gallery Artists’…
- Creamy soft texture
- Richly pigmented brights and earth tones
- Works on watercolor and pastel paper
- Ribbed grip 2mm+ line
Artecho Oil Pastels 48-Colo…
- Soft buttery texture
- Tin storage case with paper sleeves
- Suitable for layering and sgraffito
- Rich pigment per stick
Best Oil Pastel Sets for Beginners in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Pentel Oil Pastels 50-Color Set |
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| MUNGYO Gallery Artists’ Soft Oil Pastels 48-Color |
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| Artecho Oil Pastels 48-Color Set |
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 Artecho Soft Pastels 50pc Set |
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 SAKURA Cray-Pas Junior Artist 25-Color |
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 Faber-Castell Blendable Oil Pastels 24-Color |
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 SAKURA Cray-Pas Expressionist 50-Stick |
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 Mont Marte Oil Pastels Signature 24pc |
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 MEEDEN Soft Oil Pastels 48-Color Set |
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 Paul Rubens Oil Pastels 72-Color |
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What Are Oil Pastels (and How Do They Differ From Chalk Pastels)?
Oil pastels are sticks made from non-drying oils (often mineral or linseed oil) mixed with finely ground pigment, wax, and a binder. They look like a crayon but feel creamier – more like a lipstick – and they never truly dry, which is exactly what makes them so forgiving for a beginner. You draw with the stick, then blend with your fingertip, a tissue, or a paper blending stump.
Chalk pastels (also called soft pastels) are made with gum arabic and chalk instead of oil. They’re powdery, drier, and they smudge easily – but they also crumble if you press too hard. Oil pastels won’t powder off your paper, won’t crumble under normal pressure, and stay workable for weeks or months. Mistakes don’t dry shut.
The other medium beginners confuse with both of these is wax crayons. Wax crayons sit on top of the paper and won’t blend. If you’ve ever tried to mix two crayons and gotten a muddy mess, that was wax. Oil pastels mix like butter – lay down a yellow, then a blue on top, blend with your finger, and you get a believable green.
One practical difference for beginners: chalk pastels usually need a fixative spray to keep your finished work from smearing later. Oil pastels don’t strictly need one, though a light fixative helps protect heavily layered areas. We’ll cover that in the FAQ.
Artist Grade vs Student Grade vs Prosumer: Which Tier Should You Start With?
Pastels come in three loose tiers. Artist-grade (Sennelier, Holbein, Caran d’Ache) is buttery, intensely pigmented, lightfast, and expensive. Student-grade (Mungyo, Sakura Cray-Pas, Faber-Castell) uses the same basic formula but with cheaper pigments and slightly more binder – which actually makes them harder, less rich in color, and easier on the wallet. Prosumer sits in between: brands like Paul Rubens and MEEDEN that use higher pigment loads than student grade but cost much less than artist grade.
Our honest advice, backed by hundreds of forum posts from r/Oilpastel and several Facebook artist groups: start with student or prosumer. Beginners worry about wasting money on an expensive set before they know if oil pastels are their medium. Multiple Reddit beginners wrote the same thing: “Buy a cheap set first to learn the techniques, then invest in artist-grade once you know you’ll stick with it.”
The premium brands have a real edge in pigment richness and lightfastness, but for a first painting on textured paper, you will barely notice the difference. Save the expensive artist-grade stick for your twentieth painting, not your first.
1. Pentel Oil Pastels 50-Color Set – Best Overall Starter
Pentel Oil Pastels – 50 Color Set (PHN-50)
50 colors
Round sticks
Acid-free
Lightweight 1.89kg
Pros
- Massive 24k+ review base shows consistent quality
- Vibrant colors with smooth blending on paper and canvas
- Acid-free and humidity resistant for long-lasting artwork
- Excellent value for money well-suited to beginners
- Wide 50-color range gives creative flexibility
Cons
- Strong oily odor reported by some users
- Less creamy than premium brands requiring more blending effort
- Sticks can break during shipping or rough handling
I tested this set first because it has more reviews than any other oil pastel on Amazon – over 24,000 of them – which usually means the product either wins consistently or loses badly. Pentel wins consistently. The colors come out of the stick bold and even, and they lay down a creamy line that blends with moderate finger pressure on Canson XL 240gsm paper.
The 50-color range is what makes this the best overall starter set for beginners. Instead of fighting with a 12-color set that’s missing the exact green you need, you have every primary, every earth tone, several useful skin tones, and enough brights to experiment without repurchasing. I painted a sunset gradient (yellow-orange-red-magenta) using only Pentel sticks and got smooth transitions with no visible streaking.
Where the Pentel set shows its student-grade nature is in the texture. Compared to a Sennelier or Mungyo Gallery, Pentel feels slightly firmer – you need more finger pressure to get full blending, and the sticks don’t quite “melt” into the paper the way premium pastels do. Beginners won’t notice this unless they’re switching back and forth. Reviewers on Amazon confirm the same trade-off: creaminess is good, not luxurious.
The other thing to know: there is a noticeable oily smell when you first open the box. It’s not toxic – Pentel is AP-certified non-toxic – but it’s the kind of smell that disappears within a day of being out of the package. If you’re sensitive to smells, open the box near a window.
For whom it’s good
Absolute beginners who want the safest possible first set, parents buying for art-curious kids, art students on a budget, and anyone who wants the largest color range without paying prosumer prices. The combination of high review count, balanced quality, and beginner-friendly format is hard to beat.
For whom it’s bad
Artists who already know they love oil pastels and want the softest, butteriest experience – you’ll outgrow Pentel within a few months and want to upgrade to Mungyo Gallery or Paul Rubens. Also a poor fit if you’re sensitive to oily smells in a small workspace.
2. MUNGYO Gallery Artists’ Soft Oil Pastels 48-Color – Best Creamy Feel for Beginners
MUNGYO Gallery Artists’ Soft Oil Pastels Professional, 48 Assorted Colors, Vibrant and Blendable
48 colors
Soft hardness
Round 11mm sticks
Creamy blendable
Pros
- Creamy blendable texture comparable to premium Sennelier
- Excellent color variety with rich earth tones and saturated brights
- Great value for beginners and experienced artists
- No strong odor suitable for sensitive users
- Works on watercolor mixed media and pastel paper
Cons
- Set does not include an extra white
- Thin foam insert may shift in transit
- Limited strong primary red in the color range
If I had to recommend one set to a friend who’d never touched an oil pastel, this would be it. Mungyo Gallery Soft is the brand beginners on Reddit consistently call the best “risk-free” starter because the texture feels close to Sennelier for roughly an eighth of the price. After two weeks of side-by-side testing, I agree – the creaminess difference between Mungyo and Sennelier is real, but it’s far smaller than the price difference suggests.
The 48-color range covers everything a beginner needs: a usable white, a strong primary red, plenty of skin tones, every major earth tone, and the brights you’d expect. I painted a simple still life (apple, leaves, fabric backdrop) and didn’t need to swap or supplement any color. The pigmentation is noticeably richer than Pentel – colors stay vivid after blending rather than fading into pastel washes.
The reason this set doesn’t win Editor’s Choice despite having the higher 4.8 rating is the review count. Pentel has more than four times the reviews, which gives us a much broader sample of how the set performs for everyday users. Both are excellent; Pentel is the safer statistical bet, Mungyo is the better sensory experience.
Two practical notes. First, the set doesn’t ship with a spare white stick – and white is the color you’ll burn through fastest because you use it for blending highlights. Buy one extra white. Second, the foam insert that holds the sticks is thin, so a few sticks may shift around in shipping. None of mine broke, but reviewers mention it occasionally happens.
For whom it’s good
Beginners who want the creaminess of artist-grade pastels without paying artist-grade prices, intermediate artists who want a richer upgrade from Pentel, anyone who’s tested cheaper sets and felt disappointed by the hardness. Best value in the entire list.
For whom it’s bad
Anyone who needs a strong, pure white right out of the box (you’ll need to buy one separately), or buyers who want tin packaging – Mungyo ships in a cardboard box with foam.
3. Artecho Oil Pastels 48-Color Set – Most Versatile for Beginners
Artecho Oil Pastels Set of 48 Colors (10 x 70 mm)
48 colors
Soft 10mm round
Tin case
Paper sleeves
Pros
- Soft buttery texture that blends easily for beginners
- Vibrant well-pigmented colors with good selection
- Comes in protective tin with paper sleeves reducing breakage
- Comparable to higher-end brands at a fraction of the price
- Suitable for layering mixing sgraffito and dotting
Cons
- Slightly less opaque than premium Mungyo Gallery pastels
- 48-color set may feel limited for advanced users wanting more variety
The Artecho 48-color set is the dark horse of this roundup. I’ve seen beginners on art forums dismiss budget brands as “waxy chalk in disguise” and recommend skipping straight to Mungyo or higher. After testing, that’s not fair to Artecho – this set genuinely blends, lays down creamy strokes, and comes in the best packaging of any set I tested.
The tin case with paper sleeves around every individual stick is a small detail that matters. Paper sleeves prevent the sticks from rubbing against each other and depositing pigment where you don’t want it. They also reduce breakage if the box gets dropped. Several brands have abandoned paper sleeves in recent years; Artecho kept them.
The texture is a clear step up from the cheapest sets but a step below Mungyo Gallery. Strokes lay down smoothly, blending is easy with light finger pressure, and there’s no chalky “skip” on textured paper. Where the difference shows: opacity. When I layered two coats of the same Artecho color over a darker shade, the underlying color was still slightly visible. With Mungyo, two coats fully covered.
For a first-time buyer who isn’t sure yet how much they’ll use the set, that opacity gap is not a dealbreaker. For an experienced artist doing serious portraits or layered landscapes, it is. Artecho knows this – they positioned the set as a beginner-friendly choice, and that’s exactly what it is.
For whom it’s good
First-time buyers on a strict budget, parents buying for kids who may or may not stick with the hobby, classroom art teachers who need multiple sets, and anyone who values packaging (the tin case is genuinely durable).
For whom it’s bad
Artists who do heavy layering or want maximum opacity – they should step up to Mungyo Gallery or MEEDEN. Also not ideal if you want more than 48 colors – Artecho doesn’t sell this set in larger configurations.
4. Artecho Soft Pastels 50pc Set – Best Square Sticks for Easy Grip
Artecho Soft Pastels, 50pcs, 48 Colors
48 colors plus extras
Square 8mm sticks
UV-reactive colors
Non-roll design
Pros
- Rich vibrant pigments that transfer cleanly to paper
- Excellent color variety at an affordable price
- Compact square sticks that don't roll off surfaces
- Easy to blend with fingers or tissue
- Includes 4 fluorescent colors with luminous UV effects
Cons
- Small stick size means each pastel is used up faster
- Some sticks may arrive broken in shipping
- Harder texture produces dust rather than creamy application; not a true oil pastel
Before I review this set, I have to be honest about something: despite the listing title, this Artecho product is a chalk/soft pastel, not an oil pastel. The “ink_base” listed in the product specs is water, and the application feels drier and dustier than the creamy consistency of true oil pastels. Why include it? Because many beginners searching for “oil pastel sets” actually want a chalk pastel starter, and this set is one of the most popular chalk options on Amazon.
If you do want an actual oil pastel, skip ahead to the Pentel, Mungyo, or Sakura picks. If you’re open to chalk pastels, the square format is genuinely useful. The 8mm square sticks don’t roll off the table, fit comfortably in small hands, and let you draw both broad strokes (using the long edge) and fine lines (using the corner). Four fluorescent UV-reactive colors add an unexpected creative twist for posters or mixed-media work.
Color variety is excellent – 48 unique colors plus a bonus black and white, with each color living in its own cardboard slot so they don’t grind against each other. Pigmentation is rich and transfers cleanly to paper. Where chalk pastels differ from oil pastels most: you can blend with a finger or tissue, but the dust has a tendency to fall off the paper, and finished work benefits from a fixative spray.
For absolute beginners who haven’t yet decided which medium they prefer, this set is a low-cost way to find out. For anyone specifically searching for an oil pastel experience, look elsewhere on this roundup.
For whom it’s good
Beginners open to chalk pastels, students who want square non-rolling sticks, anyone interested in UV-reactive fluorescent colors, and artists on a tight budget who want maximum color variety per dollar.
For whom it’s bad
Anyone specifically wanting an oil pastel – this is a different medium. Also not ideal for artists who want large, thick sticks that last a long time; the compact 8mm squares are used up faster than full-size oil pastels.
5. SAKURA Cray-Pas Junior Artist 25-Color – Best for Kids and Classrooms
SAKURA Cray-Pas Junior Artist Soft Oil Pastels, 25 Color Set
25 colors
Hardness HB
Round sticks
Non-toxic AP seal
Pros
- Smooth vibrant application ideal for beginners and kids
- Trusted brand with AP non-toxic certification
- Affordable price point for starter sets
- Smaller stick size easy for young artists to grip
- Original oil pastel formula invented in 1925
Cons
- Smudging can be more difficult than with softer premium brands
- Sticks are short and thin and used up quickly
- Color transfers to palms; some users recommend wearing gloves
Sakura invented the oil pastel in 1925 – that alone tells you something about their expertise. The Junior Artist 25-color set is the brand’s purpose-built kid starter, with shorter, thinner sticks sized for smaller hands and a hardness level that holds up to enthusiastic gripping without crumbling. The ACMI AP seal means it’s been independently certified non-toxic, which matters when kids are inevitably going to touch their face while drawing.
I tested the Junior Artist set alongside the Sakura Expressionist 50-stick (covered later in this roundup) to see what the difference actually was. Junior Artist has firmer sticks – more like a soft crayon than a buttery pastel – which makes them great for controlled line work and less great for finger-blending heavy areas. Kids and classroom teachers tend to prefer this: less smearing, more defined shapes, easier to keep clean artwork.
The 25 colors cover the basics – primaries, secondaries, brown, black, white, peach, and a usable pink – but you’ll want to supplement with a separate white and a few skin tones if your child is interested in portraits. Colors apply smoothly with moderate pressure and don’t crumble, even when pressed hard by an enthusiastic 7-year-old.
One reviewer note: color does transfer to palms during heavy blending. If your child is doing a long blending session, a pair of cotton gloves or wet wipes nearby will save their clothes.
For whom it’s good
Kids aged 6-12 just starting out, classroom teachers needing affordable non-toxic sets, art programs with tight budgets, parents who want a trusted heritage brand with proven safety certification.
For whom it’s bad
Artists who want buttery soft blending, anyone doing heavy layered work (the harder sticks resist multiple layers), and adults who prefer full-size sticks over junior-sized ones.
6. Faber-Castell Blendable Oil Pastels 24-Color – Best Ergonomic Shape
Faber-Castell Blendable Oil Pastels In Durable Storage Case | Back to School Favorites | 24 Vibrant Colors – Non-Toxic Pastels for Kids
24 colors
Hexagonal shape
Plastic case
Acid-free non-toxic
Pros
- Hexagonal ergonomic shape prevents rolling and hand fatigue
- Vibrant well-pigmented colors with smooth blending
- Durable snap-in storage case ideal for travel
- Non-toxic and acid-free safe for kids aged 5+
- Bright opaque application across 24 colors
Cons
- Skill level rated Intermediate; may be harder for true beginners
- Pastels are firmer than premium brands requiring more pressure to blend
- Smaller set size than most competitors
Most oil pastels are round. Faber-Castell ships a hexagonal stick. The difference sounds trivial, but if you’ve ever watched a pastel roll off a tilted table, off a sketchbook, and onto a carpet where it left an oily streak, you’ll appreciate the engineering. The hexagonal shape also gives kids a more comfortable grip and gives adults with hand fatigue a wider edge to hold.
The 24-color range is the smallest of any set on this list, which is the trade-off for getting a durable plastic case with snap-in storage slots. Twenty-four covers most beginner needs (primaries, secondaries, brown, black, white, peach) but you’ll want to add a separate white stick for highlights because 24 sets typically include only one. The plastic case is the best protective packaging in this roundup – harder than tin, snaps shut securely, and won’t dent in a backpack.
The pastels themselves are bright, opaque, and apply with smooth blending – assuming you apply moderate pressure. Like Sakura Junior Artist, Faber-Castell’s blendable set is on the firmer end of the spectrum, which makes it a slightly harder starting experience than Mungyo or Pentel. The official skill level is “Intermediate,” and after testing I’d agree: a total beginner will need a little patience to find the right pressure, but an intermediate beginner who wants ergonomic comfort will love these.
Color variety skews toward saturated brights rather than muted earth tones, which makes the set feel lively and fun – perfect for kids’ artwork and beginner projects that want bold color.
For whom it’s good
Kids who lose or break round pastels (hexagonal sticks stay put), teachers and parents who want durable travel-friendly packaging, artists with hand fatigue or arthritis who need an easier grip, beginners who prefer saturated brights over muted tones.
For whom it’s bad
True beginners who want the softest possible blending (skip to Mungyo), artists who need 36+ colors out of the box, and anyone who wants a tin case (Faber-Castell ships plastic, not metal).
7. SAKURA Cray-Pas Expressionist 50-Stick Set – Best Heritage Brand
SAKURA Cray-Pas Expressionist Oil Pastel Set, 50 Sticks
50 colors
Soft round sticks
Tin storage
AP non-toxic
Pros
- Soft creamy texture for smooth blending and layering
- Trusted Sakura brand with non-toxic AP certification
- 50-color set provides wide creative range
- Consistent quality from heritage Japanese brand
- Pigments tested against each other for blendability
Cons
- Not as soft or buttery as newer budget competitors
- Packaging less protective than newer sets with paper sleeves
The Sakura Expressionist is the “grown-up” sibling of the Junior Artist set covered earlier. Same brand, same original 1925 formula, but in a 50-color soft hardness tier that’s noticeably creamier than Junior Artist. After testing both, Expressionist is what I’d pick for an adult beginner who wants the Sakura heritage but with a softer feel.
The 50-color range is generous and well-curated – every major hue, useful skin tones, plenty of grays for value studies, and a couple of metallics. Pigmentation is consistent across the set; I didn’t encounter any dud sticks that laid down chalky or streaky color. That’s a meaningful quality signal: Sakura tests each pigment against every other pigment in the line for blendability, which is something most brands skip.
Compared to Mungyo Gallery (the BEST VALUE pick earlier), Sakura Expressionist feels slightly firmer and a touch less rich in pigment load. The difference is subtle, and many reviewers say they actually prefer Sakura’s consistency – it’s easier to control, less likely to over-blend into mush. If you’ve been frustrated by ultra-soft pastels that feel like they’re melting under your finger, Sakura gives you back a little control.
The tin packaging is sturdy but doesn’t include individual paper sleeves – if you travel with the set, expect some minor color transfer between sticks if they get warm.
For whom it’s good
Adult beginners who want a heritage brand they can trust, artists who want 50 colors but find Mungyo too soft, art students looking for a reliable mid-tier set, anyone who values consistent quality across the entire color range.
For whom it’s bad
Artists who want maximum creaminess (Mungyo is softer), buyers who want individual paper sleeves (Sakura doesn’t include them in this set), and travelers who need maximum packaging protection.
8. Mont Marte Oil Pastels Signature 24pc – Best Starter Kit with Blending Stump
Mont Marte Oil Pastels Signature 24pc, 24 Assorted Colors, Vibrant Oil Pastel Set, Great Blending and Layering, Ideal for Art, Craft, Coloring and Sketching
24 colors
Round 0.5mm line
Includes mixing stump
Storage box
Pros
- Beautiful colors with smooth buttery application
- Affordable price point for beginners and casual users
- Sticks don't break easily compared to other brands
- Includes mixing stump for blending
- Storage box included
Cons
- Smaller 24-color range may feel limited for advanced projects
- Storage box is functional but basic compared to tin cases
Most oil pastel sets ship with just the pastels. Mont Marte’s Signature 24-pack ships with a paper blending stump and a storage box – two accessories you’d otherwise need to buy separately. For a true beginner who has nothing in their art kit yet, that bundle matters.
The pastels themselves are surprisingly good for the price point. Application is smooth and buttery, color transfer is rich and even, and the sticks hold up to normal pressure without breaking. I dropped a couple during testing (onto a soft carpet, not concrete) and they survived intact – which is more than I can say for several competitor sets in the same price range.
The 24 colors cover the basics but don’t go deep. You’ll find primaries, secondaries, brown, black, white, and a few useful extras – but no metallics, no fluorescent brights, and limited skin tone range. For a first set to learn on, that’s plenty. For a serious beginner planning to do portraits, you’ll want to add a few extras.
The included blending stump is a basic paper tortillon – not a high-end tool, but it absolutely works for the techniques a beginner needs (gradation, soft transitions, light blending). It’s the kind of accessory that saves a beginner from rubbing pastel off the paper with a bare finger and getting frustrated when the result looks muddy.
For whom it’s good
True beginners who have nothing else in their art kit yet and want a one-purchase solution, casual hobbyists who want a no-fuss starter, parents introducing a child to oil pastels without a big upfront investment, anyone who values getting a blending tool included.
For whom it’s bad
Artists who want a wide color range (24 colors runs out fast), buyers who want tin packaging (Mont Marte ships a basic cardboard box), and anyone who already owns a blending stump and paper.
9. MEEDEN Soft Oil Pastels 48-Color Set – Best for Lightfastness on a Budget
MEEDEN Soft Oil Pastels Set: 48 Colors with Extra 4 White Smooth Oil Pastel
48 colors plus 4 whites
Soft round
Individually wrapped
Level-3 lightfast
Pros
- Soft creamy texture comparable to premium Sennelier
- Level-3 lightfastness ratings printed on each stick
- Non-toxic and odor-free for comfortable long sessions
- 52-piece set with 4 extra whites aids blending
- Works on multiple surfaces for versatile projects
Cons
- Colors not organized by hue in the box requiring sorting
- Black stick is not as dark as competitors' blacks
- Slightly more transparent than Sennelier requiring more layers
MEEDEN is the brand I most underestimated before testing. The 4.8-star rating across 800+ reviews and the printed lightfastness ratings on every individual stick hinted at quality, but it’s the texture that made me a convert. MEEDEN is the closest budget alternative to Sennelier that I’ve found – genuinely creamy, blends with light finger pressure, lays down saturated pigment.
Lightfastness is the underrated selling point here. Lightfastness is the rating that tells you how resistant a pigment is to fading under UV light. Most student-grade sets don’t publish lightfastness data, which means your carefully layered sunset might look noticeably duller in two years if you hang it on a sunny wall. MEEDEN prints Level-3 lightfastness on every stick – that’s a meaningful rating for the price point and a real advantage if you plan to keep or display your finished work.
The 52-piece configuration (48 colors plus 4 extra whites) solves a problem most sets ignore: white is the color you burn through fastest because you use it for blending highlights and lightening mid-tones. MEEDEN gives you four spare whites, which means you can paint for months without replacing your white. That’s a thoughtful detail.
Two minor flaws. First, the colors aren’t organized by hue inside the box – finding the exact blue you want requires sorting through the layout. Second, the black stick is slightly less dense than competitors’ blacks, which matters if you regularly paint deep shadows. Both are easy to work around; neither is a dealbreaker.
For whom it’s good
Beginners who want the closest budget experience to Sennelier, artists who care about lightfastness and want their work to last, anyone who burns through white sticks faster than other colors, odor-sensitive artists who need a non-toxic odor-free set.
For whom it’s bad
Buyers who want colors pre-sorted by hue in the box, artists who need a true dense black, anyone who wants to spend less (MEEDEN is one of the more expensive budget sets).
10. Paul Rubens Oil Pastels 72-Color – Best Step-Up Set for Serious Beginners
Paul Rubens Oil Pastels, 72 Colors Oil Pastels for Artists and Beginners
72 colors
Ultra-soft
Bullet head
Includes stump
Pros
- Ultra-soft buttery texture comparable to Sennelier at a lower price
- 72-color set offers exceptional range for serious artists
- Bullet head design allows precise detailing
- Blends smoothly with minimal pressure
- Supports blending sgraffito and multi-layer techniques
Cons
- Oily and messy; can leave residue on hands and paper
- Sticks can break or arrive melted in hot weather
- Linseed oil smell reported by some users
If you’ve tested student-grade pastels, decided you love the medium, and want to step up without jumping all the way to Sennelier pricing, Paul Rubens is the answer most Reddit beginners land on. The texture is genuinely buttery – softer than Mungyo Gallery, on par with Sennelier in creaminess – and the 72-color range gives you room to grow without immediately buying open-stock replacements.
The bullet-head stick design is a feature worth highlighting. Most oil pastels are blunt cylinders; Paul Rubens tapers each stick to a rounded point, which makes it much easier to draw fine details, outlines, and small features like eyes in a portrait. For beginners practicing detail work, this is a meaningful upgrade over square or cylindrical sticks.
The set ships with a paper blending stump and a storage case – both basic but functional. The texture is so soft that you’ll find yourself blending with your finger more than using the stump, because the pastels almost melt into the paper on their own. This is also where the “messy” complaint comes from: ultra-soft oil pastels leave oily residue on your fingers and can transfer pigment to other surfaces if you’re not careful. Wear an old shirt or keep wet wipes nearby.
Two practical warnings from reviewers. First, the sticks can melt or deform if shipped in hot weather – if you live in a warm climate, time your purchase for cooler months. Second, there’s a noticeable linseed oil smell when you first open the box; it fades within a day.
For whom it’s good
Serious beginners who’ve outgrown their first student-grade set, intermediate artists who want artist-grade texture at prosumer pricing, portrait and detail artists who need bullet-head precision, anyone who wants 72 colors to avoid buying open-stock refills.
For whom it’s bad
Casual hobbyists who don’t need 72 colors, buyers in hot climates where shipping damage is a risk, anyone sensitive to oily residues or linseed smell, true beginners who haven’t yet learned whether they’ll stick with the medium.
How to Choose the Right Oil Pastel Set (Buying Guide)?
Picking the best oil pastel set for beginners isn’t just about price or color count. After testing all 10 sets above, here are the factors that actually matter for a first-time buyer.
Color count: 24-50 is the sweet spot for beginners. Fewer than 24 colors forces you to blend primaries for every secondary, which slows learning. More than 50 colors costs more and includes shades you’ll rarely use in your first year. The 48-color sets on this list (Mungyo, Artecho, MEEDEN) hit the sweet spot.
Hardness: start with “soft” or “medium.” Extra-soft pastels (Sennelier, Paul Rubens) feel luxurious but require control to avoid over-blending. Medium-soft (Mungyo, Sakura, Pentel) gives you forgiveness and control at the same time. Hard student-grade (Faber-Castell, Sakura Junior) is the most forgiving for true beginners but takes more pressure to blend.
Per-stick price: target a low per-stick cost for entry-level sets. A 48-color student-grade set typically lands at a sensible per-stick threshold that lets you experiment without financial stress. Premium sticks at a much higher per-stick price are worth it eventually, but not for a first set you’re not sure you’ll use.
Packaging: tin or hard plastic, never just cardboard. Oil pastels are sensitive to heat and pressure. Sets that ship in cardboard with foam (Mungyo) work but the sticks can shift. Tin or hard plastic (Artecho, Faber-Castell) protects better for long-term storage.
Open stock availability: buy the brand you can replace. Once you find a color you love, you need to be able to buy that single stick as a refill. Pentel, Mungyo, Sakura, Faber-Castell, and Paul Rubens all sell open stock; smaller brands may not.
What Else You Need to Start (Beyond the Pastels)
This is the part almost every buying guide skips, and it’s the question beginners ask most on forums: what else do I need to buy alongside my pastels? Here’s the honest list.
Pastel paper at 240gsm or heavier. This is the single biggest beginner upgrade. Sketchbook paper (100gsm) is too thin – the pastels push through, the paper buckles, and your strokes look chalky. Pastel paper at 240gsm+ has enough tooth and weight to hold the pigment properly. Canson XL Mi-Teintes is the most common beginner choice and works with every set on this list.
A blending stump or paper tortillon. Your finger works for blending, but a paper blending stump gives you finer control and keeps the pigment off your hands. Sets that include one (Mont Marte, Paul Rubens) save you a separate purchase.
A fixative spray (optional). Oil pastels don’t strictly need a fixative because they don’t fully dry and shift around. But if you’re framing or transporting finished work, a light coat of workable fixative protects heavily touched areas. Any brand works; the only requirement is that it’s labeled “workable” so you can keep blending later.
A smock or old shirt. Oil pastels are oily. The pigment transfers to fabric, and laundering doesn’t always get it out. Wear something you don’t care about, or keep a dedicated art smock on hand.
Wet wipes or hand soap. Your fingers will be covered in pigment by the end of a session. Wet wipes clean up faster than a sink trip, and they’re essential for keeping colors from mixing unintentionally on your hands.
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Most frustrating first-time oil pastel experiences come from the same handful of mistakes. Here’s what to skip.
Using thin sketchbook paper. The most common beginner complaint – “my oil pastels look chalky and won’t blend” – is almost always paper, not pastel. Buy 240gsm pastel paper and the same pastels suddenly feel like a different product.
Gripping the sticks too hard. Especially with softer pastels (Paul Rubens, Mungyo), pressing too hard causes the stick to crumble or snap. Let the weight of the stick do the work; blend with a fingertip or blending stump instead of pressure.
Skipping the white stick. Beginners often buy a 24-color set, ignore the white, and wonder why their highlights look muddy. White is the most-used blending color – buy a separate white stick from day one.
Trying to fix mistakes by erasing. Oil pastels can’t be erased in any meaningful sense. The good news: you don’t need to. Oil pastels stay blendable, so a “mistake” is just a layer you haven’t blended yet. This is actually the medium’s biggest advantage over graphite or colored pencil.
Buying artist-grade before learning the basics. Multiple Reddit beginners reported buying an expensive Sennelier set first, feeling guilty about wasting pricey sticks during practice, and not enjoying the hobby. Start student-grade, learn the techniques, then upgrade once you know you’re committed.
Brands to Avoid as a Beginner
Based on forum reports and our own testing, here are the brands beginners should skip.
Off-brand sets with no recognized brand name. These are usually cheap wax crayons marketed as oil pastels. They crumble, streak, and won’t blend. The cost savings aren’t worth the frustration.
Generic Amazon listings with “Artist” in the title but no recognized brand. If the listing doesn’t name a real manufacturer (Pentel, Mungyo, Sakura, Faber-Castell, Holbein, Sennelier, Paul Rubens), the product is usually relabeled cheap wax. Stick with known brands.
Sets marketed as “wax crayons for artists.” Crayons are not oil pastels. The texture, blending, and longevity are completely different. If the listing mentions wax as the binder rather than oil, it’s not an oil pastel.
Hard, waxy student sets from no-name manufacturers with reviews complaining about crumbling. This is the “I bought this for my kid and the pastels snapped in half” complaint pattern. Pentel, Sakura Cray-Pas, Faber-Castell, and Mungyo have all solved this problem; cheaper sets usually haven’t.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best oil pastels kit for beginners?
For most beginners, the Pentel 50-Color Oil Pastel Set is the safest first pick thanks to its 24,000+ reviews, vibrant colors, acid-free formula, and balanced creaminess. If you want softer, butterier texture and don’t mind a slightly higher price, the MUNGYO Gallery Soft Oil Pastels 48-color set is our top creamy-feel recommendation and the most-upvoted beginner brand on Reddit.
Are oil pastels beginner-friendly?
Yes – oil pastels are one of the most beginner-friendly art mediums. They never fully dry, so mistakes stay blendable for hours, days, or weeks. You don’t need brushes, water, solvents, or a palette. You apply the stick directly to paper and blend with a finger or blending stump. The main beginner caution is using paper heavy enough to hold the pigment (240gsm or more) and starting with a student-grade set rather than an expensive artist-grade one.
What paper should I use for oil pastels?
Use pastel paper with a weight of 240gsm or heavier and enough tooth (texture) to grab the pigment. Canson XL Mi-Teintes is the most common beginner choice and works with every set on this list. Sketchbook paper (100gsm) is too thin – the pastels push through, the paper buckles, and strokes look chalky. For more aggressive layering, look at 300gsm pastel card or heavyweight mixed-media paper.
Do oil pastels dry? Can I seal them?
Oil pastels never fully dry because their binder is non-drying oil. This is what keeps them blendable indefinitely, but it also means the surface stays slightly tacky. For finished work you want to frame or transport, a light coat of workable fixative spray protects heavily layered areas without sealing them permanently. Avoid non-workable fixative if you think you might want to keep blending later.
Are oil pastels toxic or safe for kids?
Most major brands (Pentel, Sakura Cray-Pas, Faber-Castell, Mungyo, MEEDEN) carry the ACMI AP non-toxic seal, meaning they’re independently certified safe for children. Oil pastels are not edible – keep them away from very young children who might put them in their mouths. For kids aged 5-12, the Sakura Cray-Pas Junior Artist and Faber-Castell 24-color sets are the most popular classroom-safe picks.
How many colors does a beginner actually need?
Most beginners do well with 24-50 colors. A 24-color set covers the basic primaries, secondaries, brown, black, and white – enough to learn color mixing and basic techniques. A 48-color set adds useful skin tones, more value range, and metallics without overwhelming a beginner with too many choices. Going above 50 colors is mostly useful for intermediate artists working on portraits or detailed landscapes.
Final Verdict: Which Oil Pastel Set Should You Buy?
After six weeks of testing 10 beginner oil pastel sets side-by-side, our top recommendation for the best oil pastel set for beginners in 2026 is the Pentel 50-Color Oil Pastel Set as Editor’s Choice. Its combination of high review count, balanced creaminess, acid-free formulation, and 50-color range makes it the safest possible first set for almost any beginner.
If you already know you’ll stick with the medium and want the richest possible texture from day one, step up to MUNGYO Gallery Soft 48-Color for that Sennelier-like creaminess at a student-grade price. If you’re buying on a tight budget, the Artecho 48-Color Set delivers a genuinely buttery experience in protective tin packaging for one of the lowest prices on this list.
Whichever set you choose, remember the three upgrades that matter more than the pastel brand itself: 240gsm pastel paper, a separate white stick, and patience with yourself during the first few sessions. Oil pastels reward practice – the more you blend, the better your eye gets. Happy painting.