If you’ve ever wondered how to start oil painting, here’s everything I wish I knew when I began.

When I was in high school, I took an art class and tried oil painting—and I really fell in love with the process. Now, over 20 years later, I’ve had the itch to try it again. But honestly, I was intimidated. What if I was terrible? How do I even clean it up? Can I afford this expensive hobby?

Despite my trepidations, I decided to jump in—and I’m so glad I did! In this post, I’m going to go over the basic supplies you need, how to clean up oil paints, where to find great reference photos, resources that helped me learn, and how I built a daily painting habit. My goal is that if you want to try oil painting, that this is your permission slip to get started!

how to start oil painting

SUPPLIES

When I first started thinking about how to start oil painting and the supplies, I felt overwhelmed by the options. But you don’t need everything to get started. Here’s what I use and recommend for beginners:

Brushes

For my brush, I bought a Filbert hog bristle long-handle size 2, and that’s the one I mostly use. It’s versatile enough for both broader strokes and smaller details.

👉 You can start with just one or two brushes, and add more shapes/sizes as you go. The key is to choose a long-handled brush made for oils (they give you better control and distance from the canvas).

I also bought a Round hog bristle long-handle size 2 brush, which is great for smaller details. Between these two brushes, I felt like I could tackle most beginner projects.

Paints

I suggest starting with a basic set of oil paints. Honestly, I bought the cheapest set my craft store offered. My goal was to spend as little as possible in case I didn’t like it.

I figured, if I kept oil painting, I could start with a low entry cost and then, as I used up tubes of paint, I could replace them with higher-quality, bigger bottles. That’s exactly what happened — after just 6 paintings, I had already used up all my white paint and needed to replace it.

👉 Tip: White is the color you’ll use the most, so don’t be surprised if you need to buy a bigger tube right away.

Canvas

To paint on, I decided to use canvas panels that are acrylic primed. I bought some in the 4×6 size and some in the 5×7 size.

I like these smaller panels because:

• They’re inexpensive.

• They’re easy to store and display in my home.

• They’re a good size if I ever want to sell them.

Since I want to take my art seriously, I skipped paper and went with canvas panels (though there is paper made to oil paint on). Using panels (instead of paper) helps me get into the mindset of being a professional artist, even as a beginner.

Palette

I bought an inexpensive wood palette, and honestly, I feel like a real artist when I use it! I squeeze my paints around the edges, then use the middle to mix colors.

Easel

For my easel, I was really tempted to get a big fancy one with a drawer to hold all my supplies. I might upgrade to that one day, but for now I chose a small wooden tabletop easel.

It’s sturdy enough to hold my canvas upright while I paint, and works for sizes up to 8×10. For a beginner, it feels like the perfect choice — small, portable, and affordable.

Supplies to Have Nearby

Along with the main items, a few extras make the process smoother:

• Paper towels for quick clean-up

• A jar of Gamsol (a safe solvent I use like water — it helps clean brushes and thin paint)

• A pencil to sketch my subject before painting

• A reference photo to guide me (more on that later)

💵 Supplies Cost Breakdown

Here’s about what I spent to get started (you can do the same for around $40 or less). Note, I shopped at my local craft store when art supplies were on sale:

• Brushes (Filbert + Round): $7

• Basic oil paint set: $7

• Canvas panels (pack of 4×6 + 5×7): $2 for 4×6 canvas pack $3 for 5×7 canvas pack

• Wood palette: $3

• Small tabletop easel: $7

• Paper towels, jar, pencil: $1 I had everything but the jar at home. I thrifted a small jar with a lid.

• Gamsol: $14

Total: $44

Here’s a link to a beginner’s oil painting kit for a little less money with more supplies.

🧽 Cleaning Up Oil Paints (It’s Easier Than You Think)

I’ll be honest — clean-up was one of the aspects of oil painting that overwhelmed me the most. I pictured it being messy, smelly, and complicated. But once I got into a rhythm, I realized it’s really not a big deal! Here’s my simple routine:

Brush Cleaning

I keep a jar of Gamsol right next to my palette. Whenever I need to switch colors (or when I’m done painting for the day), I dip my brush into the Gamsol and then wipe the paint off on a paper towel. This keeps my brushes clean without a lot of hassle.

Keeping Things Tidy

I also keep a paper towel under my palette to catch drips and avoid a mess on my table.

When I’m done with a painting session, I take another paper towel and wipe the middle of my palette clean. Since I’ve been painting daily, I leave the blobs of paint around the edges of my palette — they don’t dry out overnight, which is really nice because I can reuse them the next day.

Safety Tip

Make sure to seal any oily rags or paper towels in a ziplock bag or airtight container. Left out in the open, they can actually cause spontaneous combustion — which sounds dramatic, but it’s a real risk with oil paints.

📸 Finding Good Reference Photos

I’ve found that I really like having a reference photo while I paint. It gives me something to measure, compare, and stay focused on. To make things even easier, I print my photos in the same size I want to paint them (4×6 or 5×7). This way, I can measure the photo and mark my canvas with where the objects go — and they’ll end up in the right size and placement.

Where I Find My Reference Photos

Here are my three favorite sources:

1. My Own Camera Roll
   The easiest option! I scrolled through my phone and printed photos I thought would be fun to paint.
2. Artist Reference Photos
   artistreferencephotos.com is an amazing site. They share free photos you can print — and even better, you’re allowed to sell the art you create from those photos. This was created by Miss Mustardseed and I love that she took the time to create such a great resource for artists!
3. A Home is Announced
   ahomeisannounced.com has a curated collection of public domain art. I downloaded oil paintings I thought I could replicate. In fact, I started by painting studies of those paintings first, since referencing an oil painting is often easier than translating a photo into an oil painting.

The great thing about painting a study from a public domain artwork is that you can then sell it if you want. You own the copyright to your new, original painting, but not the underlying public domain work. I’ve been having fun changing the colors of the paintings to suit my home.

What Makes a Good Beginner Reference Image?

• Something you’re genuinely excited about

• Simple lighting (so the shadows and highlights are clear)

• Clear, recognizable shapes

• Not too detailed or busy

👉 My best advice? Pick subjects you like. You’ll stay motivated to finish the painting if the image feels inspiring.

📚 Resources That Helped Me Learn

One of the reasons I wanted to learn how to start oil painting again was because of Miss Mustardseed. She started learning about eight years ago, and now she paints all the time. She’s become so good that she even licenses her artwork — you can find it in big stores like Target, which is so cool!

 

• Miss Mustardseed’s Blog – She shares lots of oil painting articles that are helpful for beginners.

• Miss Mustardseed’s YouTube Channel – Packed with oil painting tutorials, tips, and inspiration.

 

I also found this YouTube video that goes over the basics of oil painting (and the rest of his videos are excellent too). He go over painting thin to thick and how you should paint dark to light with oils.

Another resource I picked up is the book Everyday Painting, which encourages painting something small every day. It really reinforces the idea that regular practice is the fastest way to improve.

👉 If you have any other favorite articles, books, or videos that helped you when you were starting out, please leave them in the comments! I’d love to check them out and share more with readers.

🎨 Challenging Myself to Paint Every Day

 

I watched a YouTube video about an artist who took on a challenge: paint something every day for a year, then hold an art show at the end to showcase all the pieces he created. The key takeaway? Practice is everything.

Inspired by that, I’ve been painting at least an hour a day. Usually, I can finish a painting in that time. Sometimes it takes a few hours, and I either extend the session or work on a painting over several days.

As I finish each painting, I’ve been thrifting frames and hanging them on my walls immediately. It’s so fun to literally see the fruits of my labor!

Painting daily has also made me feel so alive. I love doing something that’s been calling to me for years. After a session, I notice my stress levels are down. I often turn on a show while I paint, and the focus required keeps me completely in the moment. The rhythmic nature of painting seems to lower my cortisol and helps clear my mind.

Not every painting has been perfect, but just showing up and trying over and over has been incredibly gratifying. The progress and joy come from the habit itself, not just the finished pieces.

✨ Conclusion: You Can Do This

If you’re feeling intimidated about starting oil painting, take a deep breath — you can do this. The key is to start simple, focus on learning, and give yourself permission to make mistakes along the way.

Some of the biggest takeaways from my experience:

• You don’t need every brush, color, or tool to get started. Start small and grow your supplies as you go.

• Cleaning up isn’t scary once you have a simple routine.

• Using reference photos makes painting less overwhelming and more fun.

• Consistent practice — even just an hour a day — helps you improve faster than you think and brings joy in the process.

Oil painting is completely learnable with patience, curiosity, and a willingness to show up regularly.

I’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, favorite resources, or your own oil painting experiences in the comments below. And if you found this guide on how to start oil painting helpful, bookmark it or pin it for later so you can return to it whenever inspiration strikes.

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