Phoenix oil paint set

A ready-made palette to start oil painting

Choosing your first oil colours can be confusing. This Phoenix set solves it by putting 12 colours in one box, so you can start painting and mixing straight away. The paints are made from quality pigments and oils, and they spread evenly with a smooth, creamy consistency that’s easy to work with.

Phoenix has been making artist materials since 1988, and the oil paints are made to be affordable without losing the qualities painters look for. The paint has strong covering power, dries at an even rate, and is permanent and lightfast once dry. Use it straight from the tube for thick, textured strokes, or thin it with a medium for glazes and smooth blends.

What’s in the set

• 12 oil paint tubes in assorted colours

Why you’ll like it

• 12 colours in one set, ready to use
• Quality pigments in a smooth, creamy formula
• Strong covering power with an even drying time
• Permanent and lightfast once dry
• Can be mixed with oil mediums such as linseed oil, and with texture and moulding pastes
• Suitable for canvas, canvas panels, oil paper, and oil pads
• An economical choice for beginners, students, and classes
• From Phoenix, a long-established maker of artist materials

Great for

• Learning oil painting and colour mixing
• Landscapes, portraits, still life, and abstract work
• Wet-on-wet, layering, and glazing techniques
• Art classes, workshops, and painting nights
• Gifts for new painters
• Practice studies before moving to artist-grade paint

Tips for getting started

1. Squeeze out a small amount of each colour onto a palette. A little goes a long way.
2. Mix colours on the palette before you paint. With white, black, and a few primaries, you can make a wide range of shades.
3. Start with a thin first layer, then add thicker paint on top. This is the “fat over lean” rule, and it helps prevent cracking.
4. Thin the paint with a painting medium, linseed oil, or an odourless thinner, depending on the effect you want.
5. Paint on a primed surface, such as canvas, a canvas panel, or oil paper.
6. Clean brushes with a suitable brush cleaner or solvent, then wash with soap and water.
7. Replace tube caps straight away, and wipe the threads so they don’t stick.

• Oil paint dries slowly. Thin layers dry in days, and thicker layers take weeks. Wait until the painting is fully dry before varnishing.
• Don’t paint acrylic over oil, and prime your surface properly for oil.
• Work in a well-ventilated space, especially when you use solvents.
• Keep out of reach of young children.