Oil pastels look deceptively simple — just colorful sticks, no brushes, no water, no setup. But pick the wrong set and you’ll spend your first session fighting waxy, pigment-thin sticks that won’t blend and leave you convinced you’re bad at art. You’re not. You just had the wrong supplies.
This guide cuts through the noise and recommends the best oil pastels for beginners at every price point — from ultra-affordable test sets to the first serious upgrade worth making. If you’re new to oil pastels and want to start with something that actually works, you’re in the right place.
QUICK COMPARISON TABLE
| Product | Best For | Set Size | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist | Best overall for beginners | 50 colors | $20–$25 |
| Mungyo Gallery Soft Oil Pastels | Best step-up pick | 48 colors | $20–$25 |
| Pentel Arts Oil Pastels | Best budget pick | 50 colors | $5–$10 |
| Paul Rubens Oil Pastels | Best for serious beginners | 50 colors | $25-$30 |
| Sennelier Oil Pastels Starter Set | Best splurge | 48 colors | $125+ |
| Faber-Castell Creative Studio | Best ultra-budget | 36 colors | $20-$25 |
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What to Look for in Oil Pastels for Beginners
Pigment Load
Pigment load is what separates a satisfying oil pastel experience from a frustrating one. Higher pigment means richer, more opaque color that actually shows up on the paper. Many cheap beginner sets are heavy on wax filler and light on pigment — they look fine in the wrapper but go on chalky and dull. For beginners, a decent pigment load is more important than brand name. Look for sets described as “soft” rather than “standard” — they tend to have a better pigment-to-wax ratio.
Blendability
Blending is one of oil pastels’ biggest selling points, but not every set blends well. Student-grade and budget sets can feel waxy and resistant — colors sit next to each other without merging. A set that blends smoothly with just your finger makes the learning process dramatically more enjoyable and gives you much better results without any special technique. If you can only prioritize one quality factor, make it this one.
Set Size
Thirty-six colors is a practical starting point for beginners — enough range to work with without overwhelming you. A 24-color set is manageable but you’ll feel the gaps quickly, especially in greens and mid-tone blues. Sets larger than 48 colors are generally more than a beginner needs and often include many near-duplicates. If you’re on a tight budget, prioritize a smaller set of better-quality pastels over a larger set of poor ones.
Paper Matters Too
This isn’t about the pastels themselves, but it’s worth saying: the most common reason oil pastel results disappoint beginners is thin or wrong paper, not bad pastels. Use paper that’s at least 160gsm with some texture (“tooth”) so the pigment has something to grip. Smooth printer paper or thin sketchbook paper will make even good oil pastels look patchy and cause buckling. Our guide to the best paper for oil pastels covers the top options at every price point.
Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist — Best Overall
The Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist is the most consistently recommended oil pastel set for beginners across the art community — and for good reason. The pigment is noticeably stronger than most sets in this price range, the colors are vibrant without being oversaturated, and blending with a finger or blending stump works smoothly. For a first set, it nails the balance between affordability and performance.
The Expressionist line is a step up from Sakura’s Junior Artist set — softer consistency, richer colors, and better blendability. For most beginners, the 25-color set is the right starting point; it covers enough of the color spectrum to practice without being wasteful.
Pros:
- Strong pigment load for the price — colors read as genuinely vibrant on paper
- Blends well with fingers, giving beginners satisfying results quickly
- Widely available on Amazon and in art supply stores
Cons:
- Colors can feel slightly waxy compared to mid-grade options like Mungyo
- Not available open-stock, so you can’t replace individual colors as they run out
Mungyo Gallery Soft Oil Pastels — Best Step-Up Pick
Mungyo Gallery Soft Oil Pastels are the open secret of the oil pastel world. Made in Korea, they punch significantly above their price point — many artists who’ve tried Sennelier or Holbein still reach for Mungyo for base layers and practice work. The consistency is genuinely soft and creamy, blending is smooth, and the color range in the 48- and 72-color sets is generous and well-calibrated.
For a beginner who’s done some reading and wants to start with something closer to artist-grade without the artist-grade price, Mungyo is the move. The 48-color set around $35 is excellent value.
Pros:
- Noticeably softer and more blendable than most student-grade sets
- Strong pigment load; colors are vivid and opaque
- Great value — performs closer to mid-grade than the price suggests
Cons:
- Not widely available open-stock, so replacing individual colors is difficult
- The large set sizes can feel overwhelming for absolute beginners
Pentel Arts Oil Pastels — Best Budget Pick
If your goal is to find out whether oil pastels are a medium you’ll actually stick with before spending real money, the Pentel Arts set is the lowest-risk way to do it. At under $10 for a 16-color set, they’re accessible and surprisingly usable — the colors are reasonably vibrant and they blend adequately for a first session.
They’re not going to give you the smooth, creamy performance of Mungyo or even Sakura Cray-Pas, but they’re genuinely functional for experimentation and learning basic techniques. Think of them as the “find out if this medium clicks” purchase.
Pros:
- Very low price — minimal financial commitment to try the medium
- Usable for basic blending and layering practice
- Available almost everywhere, including most craft stores
Cons:
- Waxier and less pigmented than mid-range sets — results feel less polished
- Limited color range in smaller sets; the 50-color set is a better value if you commit
Paul Rubens Oil Pastels — Best for Serious Beginners
Paul Rubens has built a strong reputation in the marker and colored pencil community for delivering artist-adjacent quality at mid-range prices, and their oil pastels follow the same pattern. The 49-color set offers noticeably higher pigment concentration than typical student-grade sets, blends smoothly, and — importantly — comes with paper thick enough to actually use them on, which is a genuine beginner advantage.
For someone who’s already confident they’ll use oil pastels seriously and wants a set that won’t feel limiting within a month, Paul Rubens is worth the extra investment over Sakura or Pentel.
Pros:
- High pigment load — colors are rich, opaque, and vibrant
- Smooth, creamy consistency; blends well with fingers and blending tools
- Some sets include compatible paper, removing a common beginner stumbling block
Cons:
- Higher price point than Sakura or Pentel — more commitment upfront
- Less widely known than Sakura; harder to find in physical stores
Sennelier Oil Pastels Starter Set — Best Splurge
Sennelier invented the modern artist-grade oil pastel in 1949, originally developed with Pablo Picasso, and they remain the benchmark that every other brand gets measured against. The consistency is described by artists as “buttery” — genuinely lipstick-soft, blending almost effortlessly, with pigment density that makes colors appear luminous on the page.
For a beginner, a 24-color Sennelier starter set is the right entry point — enough colors to explore the medium properly without the sticker shock of a full set. If you already know you’re serious about oil pastels and want to understand what the medium is truly capable of, starting here sets the right expectations.
Pros:
- The gold standard for blendability and pigment richness
- Available open-stock — you can replace individual colors as they run out
- Starter sets are a reasonable entry point without committing to a full set
Cons:
- Significant price premium — roughly 4–6x the cost of student-grade sets per stick
- Very soft consistency can be harder to control for absolute beginners used to firmer media
- Used up faster than firmer pastels, especially for large coverage areas
Faber-Castell Creative Studio Oil Pastels — Best Ultra-Budget Starter
Faber-Castell’s Creative Studio line is designed for students and beginners, and it shows — but in a good way. The pastels are easy to hold, blend reasonably well for the price, and come from a trusted brand with consistent quality control. For someone buying oil pastels as a gift, for a child, or as a very low-stakes introduction to the medium, this is a reliable choice.
They’re not as pigmented or smooth as Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist, but the Faber-Castell name and the brand’s track record mean you’re getting consistent quality without surprises.
Pros:
- Trusted brand with reliable quality control across the range
- Easy to use for beginners; smooth enough for basic blending
- Widely available in stores and online
Cons:
- Less pigmented than Sakura Cray-Pas at a similar price point
- Works best on grained paper — results on smooth paper are underwhelming
Frequently Asked Questions
Are oil pastels good for beginners?
Yes — oil pastels are one of the more beginner-friendly art media available. There’s no setup, no water or solvents required, and the medium is forgiving: you can blend, layer, and adjust for a long time before the pastel fully sets. The main learning curve is controlling blending without muddying colors, which comes quickly with practice.
How many colors do I need to start with oil pastels?
A set of 24–36 colors is the practical sweet spot for beginners. It gives you enough range to mix and layer without overwhelming you or creating near-duplicate colors you won’t use. If you start with a 24-color set and find yourself wanting more range, the next step is typically a 36- or 48-color set from the same or a step-up brand.
What’s the difference between student-grade and artist-grade oil pastels?
Student-grade oil pastels use more wax filler and less pigment, making them firmer, less blendable, and less vibrant. Artist-grade pastels have higher pigment concentration and a softer, creamier consistency — they blend more easily and produce richer colors. For beginners, a quality student-grade set like Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist or Mungyo Gallery is a smart starting point before investing in artist-grade options.
Do oil pastels work on regular paper?
They can, but thin or smooth paper produces frustrating results — the pastel skates across the surface, colors look patchy, and the paper can buckle under pressure. For best results, use paper that’s at least 160gsm with some surface texture. Our guide to the best paper for oil pastels covers the top options at every price point.
Can you blend oil pastels without special tools?
Yes — your finger is the most effective blending tool for oil pastels, especially as a beginner. Cotton swabs work well for smaller areas and tighter detail. Blending stumps and silicone tools give more control once you’re comfortable with the medium. You don’t need to buy anything beyond the pastels and paper to get started.
Final Verdict
For most beginners, Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist is the right call — strong pigment, smooth blending, widely available, and priced low enough that you’re not stressed about using them. Start with the 25-color set before committing to a larger range.
If your budget is tight and you’re still deciding whether oil pastels will stick, Pentel Arts is a reasonable way to find out cheaply. If you already know you’re serious about the medium, Mungyo Gallery Soft gives you significantly better performance for not much more money — and the step up in blendability and color richness is immediately noticeable.
Ready to pair your pastels with the right surface? Our guide to the best paper for oil pastels will make sure your setup is working with you, not against you. Beginner interested in other mediums? Check out our beginners guide to alcohol markers.
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