(Paints, Brushes, Surfaces, Mediums and Luxe Sets)

Christmas at Art Shed is never neat, especially in the oil aisle. There is always a trail of test swatches up the counter, a staff member debating hog bristle versus synthetic and a faint haze of linseed and coffee holding the whole operation together. It is chaotic in the best way, because when it comes to oil painting gifts, our team has very strong opinions about what deserves to go under the tree.

We have spent the year glazing, scumbling and palette knifing our way through every formulation, surface and brush shape on the shelf. The result is a curated, battle tested collection of water mixable oils, classic Winton sets, premium Art Spectrum colours and brushes that genuinely elevate a painter’s workflow. These are the supplies artists reach for on Boxing Day morning, and keep using all year.

So if you've been searching for oil painting gifts that won’t end up forgotten in a drawer, you can stop scrolling. From beginner friendly kits to professional grade upgrades, we’ve pulled together the ultimate selection to help you gift confidently this Christmas.

Beginner Paint Sets

Mont Marte Paint Set – H2O Water Mixable Oil Paint 36 pc x 18 ml
This big 36 colour H2O set is an instant oil painting studio in a box. You get 18 ml tubes in a full spread of brights, neutrals and earth tones, all in a water mixable oil formula that can be thinned and cleaned up with water instead of traditional solvents, which is ideal for home studios and shared spaces. The consistency is smooth and forgiving, so beginners can experiment with glazing, layering and thicker brushwork without feeling overwhelmed. Pair it with an oil and acrylic pad or cotton canvas pad and you have a Christmas art gift that will keep a new oil painter busy right through summer.

Mont Marte Signature Paint Set – Oil Paint 24 pc x 12 ml
This 24 colour Signature oil paint set is a classic first serious oil palette for students and beginners. The 12 ml tubes are big enough for small canvases, colour studies and practice pieces without demanding a huge commitment. The colours have good covering power and tinting strength, so mixes stay lively and the paint sits nicely on canvas, boards and oil painting pads. Add a wooden palette and a basic hog bristle brush set and you have an oil painting kit that feels grown up without being intimidating.

Mont Marte Intro Paint Set – H2O Water Mixable Oil Paint 8 pc x 18 ml
If your artist is oil curious but nervous about fumes, this 8 colour H2O Intro set is the low pressure way in. It includes a tight, well chosen palette in 18 ml tubes that can be mixed into a surprising range of hues, all while cleaning up with water instead of mineral spirits.It is perfect for experimenting on pads and small canvases, learning how oil paint moves and blends without committing to a full wall of tubes. Pair it with an A4 or A3 oil pad and a small brush set for a simple, tidy oil painting gift bundle.

Mont Marte Oil Paint 75 ml Individual Tubes – Build A Mini Palette
Individual 75 ml tubes are ideal for topping up the oils that get hammered the most. These Mont Marte tubes offer a smooth, student grade oil colour that holds brush marks nicely and has enough body for both blocking in and gentle texture. Build a custom mini palette with essentials like Titanium White, Ultramarine Blue, Lemon Yellow, Crimson, Yellow Ochre and Burnt Umber and you have a compact but powerful oil painting kit. We love suggesting these as stocking stuffers, especially when you pair them with a wooden palette or stay wet palette for longer sessions.

Intermediate – Advanced Paints

Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Paint Seascape Set – 5 x 37 ml
The Winton Seascape set is perfect for artists who already love oil painting and want a more intentional colour story. Five 37 ml tubes give a focused seascape palette that still stretches well into landscapes and atmospheric skies, with the slightly firmer Winton consistency helping brushstrokes and palette knife texture hold their shape. It is a great Christmas art gift for painters who enjoy coastal subjects, cloud studies and moody horizons. Team it with a primed canvas pad and an oil brush set and you have a thoughtful, themed oil painting gift.

Winsor & Newton Artists' Oil Colour 37 ml – Individual Tubes
Artists' Oil Colour is Winsor & Newton’s professional line, made with high quality pigments and carefully formulated drying rates for serious oil painting. Individual 37 ml tubes are perfect when you want to spoil an oil painter with one or two hero colours rather than a whole set, especially speciality pigments they would not usually buy for themselves. These are the tubes that live on palettes for years, used for signature mixes, glazing and statement passages. Pick a rich transparent like Alizarin Crimson or a staple like Cobalt Blue and wrap it with a bottle of refined linseed oil for an elevated but still focused gift.

Art Spectrum Oil 40 ml – Individual Tubes (Series 5)
Art Spectrum oils are a much loved Australian brand, known for strong pigment load and a palette tuned to Australian light and landscape. Series 5 colours tend to be the special ones, with unique pigments and deeper, more complex hues that experienced artists rave about. Gifting a couple of Series 5 tubes feels like giving a painter permission to indulge in colours they normally avoid for budget reasons. These pair beautifully with an Art Spectrum wooden box set, Colourfix pads or high end linen canvases.

Expert & Specialty Paint Sets

Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Essence of Australia Colour Collection Wooden Box Set                                                      This beautiful wooden box set feels like unwrapping a moment of Australian light. Inside is a curated selection of Winton oils inspired by the warm earth tones, coastal blues and sunlit neutrals that define the Australian landscape. The paints have Winton’s signature smooth consistency and reliable pigment load, making them easy to mix, layer and control whether you’re painting big skies or detailed bush scenes. It’s a gift that looks premium without stepping into full professional pricing, and it feels genuinely thoughtful for anyone who loves traditional oils. The presentation box adds a keepsake feel, while the colour selection gives artists a ready-made palette for landscapes, seascapes or everyday studies. Paired with a quality brush set or a linen canvas, it becomes a standout Christmas hero gift for oil painters at any stage.

Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Paint Access Set – 20 x 12 ml
The Winton Access set is for the oil painter who wants options. With 20 colours in 12 ml tubes, this oil paint set covers an impressive range of hues without overwhelming the wallet or the studio shelf. The consistent Winton formulation makes it easy to learn how different pigments behave with mediums like linseed oil and fast drying mediums. This is a really strong oil painting gift idea for someone moving from student oils into a more deliberate practice.

Art Spectrum Wooden Box Set – 8 x 40 ml Oil Paint Tubes & 100 ml Refined Linseed Oil
This Art Spectrum wooden box set is a proper heirloom style gift. Inside you get eight generous 40 ml tubes of Australian made oil colour plus a 100 ml bottle of refined linseed oil, all nestled in a timber case that looks at home on any studio shelf. It is the sort of oil painting gift that helps an artist feel like they are stepping into a more serious, long term relationship with their work. Perfect as a milestone present, graduation gift or big ticket Christmas surprise.

Beginner Brushes

Mont Marte Signature Paint Brush Set – Artist Brushes In Easel Wallet 17 pc
This 17 piece Signature brush set gives beginners a whole wardrobe of brush shapes in one go. Packed in a fold out easel wallet, it is easy to stand on the table or pack into a tote for classes and plein air sessions. The synthetic bristles work across oils, acrylics and gouache, which is why we are happy to recommend them here even though they are not strictly oil specific. It is the perfect oil painting gift for someone still figuring out their favourite brush shapes and media.

Mont Marte Discovery Natural Hair Combo Brush Set 13 pc
This Discovery combo set mixes natural and synthetic bristles so beginners can feel the difference between softer synthetic strokes and slightly rougher natural hair. It is ideal for artists who want to experiment with both thin paint and thicker, more textural applications without fussing about the technicalities yet. The variety of rounds and flats works well for blocking in, basic detail and simple scumbling. It pairs nicely with a water mixable oil set for a first oil painting kit.

Mont Marte Detailer Paint Brush Set – Taklon Bristle Detailer Collection 15 pc
This 15 piece detailer collection is packed with fine liners, tiny rounds and narrow flats for intricate work. The taklon synthetic fibres are not traditional oil painting brushes in the classical sense, but they excel at crisp edges, line work, lettering and tiny details in both oils and acrylics. We like this set for illustrators, miniature painters and anyone working small, especially paired with H2O oils or mixed media oil pads.

Mont Marte Signature Paint Brush Set – Oil Hog Bristle In Wallet 11 pc
This hog bristle set is where beginners start to feel what traditional oil painting brushes are all about. Natural hog bristle is firmer and more resilient than synthetic, so it pushes thick oil paint around, creates expressive strokes and holds texture beautifully. The wallet keeps everything organised and safe from rogue solvent jars. It is a great upgrade gift for someone who has been using all purpose synthetics and is ready to try proper oil brushes.

Intermediate Brushes & Knives

Mont Marte Gallery Series Paint Brush Set – Oil 6 pc
This Gallery Series oil brush set is a compact but elevated choice for intermediate painters. The selected shapes cover the main jobs in an oil painting session, from blocking in and soft blending to more controlled detail. The bristles are designed for oil paint, with enough spring to snap back into shape while still holding a good load of colour. It is an ideal oil painting gift for someone who wants a tidy, focused brush set rather than a massive bundle.

Mont Marte Studio Series – Palette Knife Set 5 pc (Stainless Steel)
A palette knife set is like giving an artist permission to break all the rules in the best way. These five stainless steel knives can be used for mixing colour cleanly on the palette, or for direct application to the canvas for thick impasto, rocky textures, crashing waves and gestural abstracts. They pair brilliantly with heavier body oil paints like Winton and Artists' Oil Colour. Great for intermediate painters who want to loosen up and explore texture.

Art Spectrum Painting Knife 1111
The Art Spectrum 1111 knife is a studio workhorse with a flexible stainless blade and comfortable wooden handle. A single good painting knife often gets used for everything from mixing colour to scraping back and palette knife painting. As an oil painting gift, it is a small but mighty upgrade that many artists would not buy for themselves, especially when you wrap it with an oil pad or Colourfix surface.

Expert & Specialty Brushes

Winsor & Newton Winton Brush Set Heritage Wooden Box
This Winton brush set is one of those gifts that looks luxurious before you even lift the lid. The heritage style wooden box feels like it belongs in a proper painter’s studio, and inside you get a curated selection of natural bristle brushes sized for classic oil techniques like blocking in, scumbling and textured detail. The hairs have enough backbone to move thick paint without collapsing, yet still respond nicely when you want softer edges and gentle blending. It is a beautiful upgrade for someone who has been making do with random brushes and is ready for a matching, grown up set that will live on their desk for years. Pair it with a Winton oil paint set or a hero canvas for a complete, premium feeling gift

Mont Marte Paint Brush Set – Oil Brushes In Wooden Box 7 pc
This wooden box oil brush set from Mont Marte gives a tidy toolkit of dedicated oil brushes at a very approachable price point. The selection is designed around classic oil techniques, with flats, filberts and rounds that can switch between blocking in, soft blending and firmer mark making. The wooden box keeps everything safe between sessions and looks extremely giftable. It is a great middle ground for painters who want something more special than a plastic wallet, without jumping straight to European luxury brands.

Neef Green Series 95 Premium Stiff Synthetic Bristle Brush – Filbert 20 (Plus A Small Range)
Neef’s Green Series 95 brushes use a premium stiff synthetic bristle that mimics the feel of hog while offering excellent spring and durability. A large Filbert 20 is brilliant for big, confident strokes, skies, foliage and general blocking in with oil paint. We suggest building a mini range such as Filbert 8, 12 and 20 or a mix of Filbert 8, a Flat 10 and a Round 4 so the artist has coverage from detailed work through to broad areas. This kind of curated size set is a very smart oil painting gift for experienced painters who care deeply about brush feel.

Beginner Surfaces

Mont Marte Oil & Acrylic Pad 350 gsm A3 20 Sheets
This 350 gsm pad is primed for oil and acrylic so it can handle thicker paint without buckling. It is a great starter surface for oil painting beginners who want to experiment without committing to stretched canvases yet. Sheets can be torn out and framed or used as studies for bigger works later on. Pair it with a beginner oil set and a brush wallet for a compact first oil painting bundle.

Reeves Mixed Media Pad A4 200 gsm 15 Sheets
Reeves mixed media pads are a friendly price point surface that can handle sketches, underpaintings and lighter oil layers. At 200 gsm it is better for practice, planning and mixed media experiments rather than heavy impasto. It is a good option for artists who like to test colour combinations and compositions in oil before moving to canvas.

Intermediate Surfaces

Art Spectrum Double Primed Cotton Canvas Pad A3 345 gsm 10 Sheets
This double primed cotton canvas pad gives you real canvas texture without committing to a stack of stretched frames. The 345 gsm sheets are sturdy and ready to go straight out of the pad, with a priming that suits both acrylic and traditional oil painting. It is ideal for intermediate painters building a body of work on consistent surfaces. Great gift to bundle with Winton or Art Spectrum oils.

Art Spectrum Textured White Hard Cover Mixed Media Journal 11 x 14, 250 gsm 20 Sheets
This hard cover journal has a textured mixed media paper that plays really nicely with light oil layers, oil sticks and mixed media. At 11 x 14 it gives artists room to explore bigger ideas while still being portable and easy to store. It is perfect for intermediates who treat oil painting like sketchbooking and want a dedicated book for process work.

Canson Mixed Media Artist Art Book A5 Landscape 300 gsm 56 Pages
Canson’s 300 gsm mixed media books are a step up from basic sketchbooks and handle acrylic, gouache and light oil work comfortably. The smaller A5 landscape format encourages loose studies, thumbnails and on the go oil sketches. It is a lovely add on gift for oil painters who travel or like to work small between bigger canvases.

Art Spectrum Oil Paint Pad A4 300 gsm:

The Art Spectrum Oil Paint Pad in A4 brings proper oil paper into a portable, tear off format that is perfect for studies, workshops and travelling painters. Each 300 gsm sheet is specially treated to handle oil binders without excess absorption or bleed through, so you get crisp brushwork and strong colour without the warping you would see on normal paper. It is ideal for trying new palettes, practising compositions and building a library of small works that can be framed, stored or collaged later. This is a clever in between option for oil painters who want something more flexible than a canvas but more robust than a sketchbook.

Expert & Specialty Surfaces

Mont Marte Artiste 100% Natural Linen Canvas 40 x 40 inch
This 40 x 40 inch Mont Marte Artiste linen canvas is a proper statement piece, the kind of surface you save for a special painting. The 100 percent natural linen weave is 450 gsm with a medium to fine texture, triple primed with universal gesso so it is ready to go straight out of the plastic. The deep 38 mm gallery edge, kiln dried pine frame and gallery folded corners give it a clean, professional profile that can hang unframed and still look incredibly polished in a home or gallery. It is a favourite among professional artists for its strength, subtle tooth and long term durability, and it is available in a full range of sizes from compact to truly massive, so you can choose a scale that suits your artist’s style and space. This one sits proudly in our luxury section for a reason. Shop the full Mont Marte Artiste Linen range here to pick the perfect size.

Art Spectrum Colourfix Original Medium Texture Pad A3 340 gsm 12 Sheets – Cool Pad
Colourfix is a heavily textured, toothy surface normally associated with pastels, but it also handles acrylics, ink and oil based media beautifully. The Cool Pad colour selection gives a range of cool toned grounds that can dramatically shift the mood of an oil painting or oil pastel piece. This is a fantastic specialty gift for mixed media artists who like grittier, more experimental oil painting surfaces.

Fabriano Leporello Cromia Sketchbook – 50% Cotton Accordion Journal For Mixed Media
This accordion style journal is part sketchbook, part display piece. The 50 percent cotton mixed media paper holds up well to light oil layers, oil sticks, pencils and ink, making it perfect for visual stories, panoramas and process sequences. It is a beautiful oil painting gift idea for artists who enjoy building concertina style projects or long format series.

Sennelier Oil Pastel 6 pc Set – Iridescent
This compact iridescent set is like jewellery for paintings. The sticks are loaded with Sennelier’s famously creamy, oil based pastel formula that glides effortlessly over dry oil paint, acrylic, mixed media grounds and heavyweight paper. The shimmering pigments catch the light beautifully, adding highlights to waves, metallic details to abstracts or magical accents to portraits and illustration work. It is a luxe little add on for an artist who already loves oil or mixed media, and a fun way to experiment with glow without committing to a huge set. If they fall in love with the feel, there is a whole Sennelier oil pastel range to explore later, so this six pack makes a perfect gateway gift.

Sennelier Oil Stick 6 pc Set – Introductory Selection
The Introductory oil stick set lets artists paint with pure oil colour directly from the stick, no brushes required. Each 38 ml stick is packed with high pigment, artist grade oil colour in a solid form that can be used for bold marks, layered scumbles and direct drawing on canvas, boards and primed paper. They can be used alone or combined with traditional tube oils for mixed techniques, and they dry into a durable oil paint film just like regular oils. It is a fantastic Christmas gift for someone who already paints with oil and wants to loosen up their mark making, or for a mixed media artist who loves rich, buttery colour. There are larger wooden box collections and themed sets in the same range, so you can start with this compact intro and let them build their Sennelier stick collection over time

Sennelier Oil Stick Mini 6 pc Set – Tabby Cat
The Tabby Cat mini set is a playful little selection of Sennelier oil sticks tuned to warm fur tones, soft neutrals and rich accent colours. Even though the format is cute and compact, the formulation is still full artist grade oil colour, so it behaves just like professional oil paint under the brush or straight from the stick. It is an adorable stocking stuffer for animal lovers, sketchbook artists and anyone who wants a small, ready made palette for pet portraits and cosy studies. Sennelier make a range of mini and full size oil stick sets, so you can treat this as a themed taster and invite them to explore the wider collection later.

Neef Staywet Palette 3 Well With Lid
A stay wet palette helps keep oil colours workable for longer by sealing them from air between sessions. This compact three well version is great for limited palettes, small studios and plein air oil painting. It is a very practical oil painting gift for artists who only get small pockets of time at the easel.

Paint Like A Van Gogh Oil Painting Bundle | Iconic Artist Oils Beginner Kit
This type of themed bundle pulls together everything needed to try painting in an expressive, post impressionist style. Think thick colour, bold brush strokes and swirling skies inspired by iconic Van Gogh works. It is perfect for beginners and hobbyists who want an experience as well as supplies, and makes a memorable Christmas present when paired with a good quality easel.

Winsor & Newton 75 ml – Water Mixable Linseed Oil
Water mixable linseed oil is designed to work with water mixable oil paints, improving flow and gloss while still cleaning up with water. It lets artists create smoother blends and glazes without introducing traditional solvents, This is a smart add on gift for anyone starting out with H2O oils who is ready to experiment with mediums.

Winsor & Newton 75 ml – Artisan Fast Drying Oil Medium (Water Mixable)
Fast drying mediums speed up the drying time of oil paint, which is especially handy in humid climates or for artists who like to layer quickly. This Artisan medium is formulated for water mixable oils, so it plays nicely with the H2O sets listed earlier. It is a great stocking stuffer for impatient oil painters who still want the look of oils without the long wait.

Mont Marte Palette – Oval Wood
A classic wooden oval palette gives a generous mixing area and that traditional oil painter feel. The smooth sealed surface makes it easy to blend colour, wipe down between sessions and arrange paints logically. It is a timeless oil painting gift and pairs beautifully with any of the paint sets above.

Mont Marte Floor Easel – French Box Style Extra Large Beech Wood
A French box easel is both a portable studio and an easel in one, with space for paints, brushes and mediums in the built in box and an adjustable mast to hold canvases. The extra large beech wood version is sturdy enough for bigger canvases while still folding down for storage or transport. This is a brilliant big ticket gift for oil painters who want to take their work outdoors or reclaim the kitchen table from their art supplies.

Sennelier Artist's Oil Sticks Set of 12 – 38 ml Wooden Box
This wooden box of Sennelier artist oil sticks feels like a treasure chest for painters. Each 38 ml stick is loaded with high quality pigment in a creamy, responsive oil binder that can be used straight from the stick or with brushes and mediums. It is a premium oil painting gift for artists who love drawing as much as painting and want to blur the line between the two.

Adjustable Glass Desk For Artists & Crafters – Mont Marte Creative Art Station
A glass topped art station is a studio upgrade that makes everything from sketching to oil painting feel more professional. The adjustable surface allows for flat work, angled painting and everything in between, while the glass is easy to clean even after heavy oil paint and mediums. This is the sort of hero gift that can totally transform how an artist uses their space.

Scott Christensen Paint The Ocean Ultimate Brush Set
This 29 piece brush and tool set was built specifically around Scott Christensen’s Paint The Ocean course, so it gives artists the exact shapes and sizes they need to follow along with his seascape lessons. Inside you will find a mix of Mont Marte taklon and Chungking brushes, wide flats for blocking in sky and sea, detail brushes for foam and highlights, a painting knife and a studio tidy to keep everything organised. Every item is chosen to move thick acrylics and oils confidently, which makes it much easier to focus on colour mixing, edges and light rather than fighting the wrong tools. It is a dream gift for intermediate and advanced painters who want to level up their coastal work with a clear, structured system. You can also pair this set with Scott’s Paint The Ocean course and let them follow the video tutorials step by step, for a complete learn to paint the ocean package. 

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FAQS WITH THE SHED

What are the best oil painting gifts for beginners?
The best oil painting gifts for beginners are simple, complete kits that remove the guesswork. Look for water mixable oil sets, a small range of brushes and a dedicated oil or mixed media pad so they can start painting without needing turps or extra mediums. A gift bundle of a beginner paint set, basic hog bristle brushes and an oil pad is usually more helpful than one fancy tube or a single giant canvas.
 

Are water mixable oils good for beginners or should I buy traditional oil paint?
Water mixable oils are an excellent choice for beginners because they feel like traditional oil paint on the brush but clean up with water instead of solvents. They are perfect for home studios, small spaces and anyone sensitive to fumes. Traditional solvent based oils are still the standard for many professional painters, but most new artists are more likely to experiment regularly if their cleanup is easy and low stress.
 

What does every oil painter actually need in their kit?
Every oil painter needs a small core set of colours, at least a couple of good brushes, a mixing surface and a suitable painting surface. In practice that means a primary or earth toned paint set, a mix of flats and filberts in hog or stiff synthetic bristle, a palette or stay wet tray, and either canvas, oil paper or a properly primed panel. Mediums like linseed oil, fast drying medium and a palette knife are great upgrades once those basics are covered.
 

What is a good Christmas gift for someone who already has oil paints?
If they already own plenty of paint, think in terms of upgrades and experiences rather than more random colours. High quality brushes, a premium linen canvas, a wooden box set, reference friendly pads or a curated brush kit like the Scott Christensen Paint The Ocean set all feel special without duplicating what they already have. You can also add mediums, a stay wet palette or an oil stick or pastel set to open up new techniques.
 

Is oil painting suitable for complete beginners, or should they start with acrylics first?
Oil painting is absolutely suitable for beginners as long as the setup is simple and safe. Water mixable oils on an oil or mixed media pad let new artists experience slow drying, blendable colour without needing to manage solvents or complicated fat over lean rules straight away. Acrylics are fantastic too, but there is no rule that says you must “graduate” into oils. Some people fall in love with the slower pace and soft blends from day one.
 

What surfaces are best for oil painting gifts under the tree?
The most reliable surfaces for oil gifts are primed canvas, oil pads and mixed media pads that specify they are suitable for oils. Canvas pads and double primed cotton pads are great for studies, while a gallery depth linen canvas feels like a big hero gift for a special artwork. If you are not sure, an oil specific pad plus a mid sized canvas will cover most painting styles and still wrap up nicely.
 

Do oil painters really need special brushes, or can they use any brush set?
Oil painters get the best results with brushes that are designed for heavier bodied paint. Hog bristle and stiff synthetic brushes hold their shape under pressure and can move thicker paint across canvas without splaying. Softer taklon brushes can be used for detail, glazing and mixed media work, but they are more at home in acrylic and watercolour. A mixed set that includes hog for blocking in and firm synthetics for detail is ideal for most oil painters.
 

What is the difference between student grade and artist grade oil paint, and does it matter for gifts?
Student grade oil paints use more binder and less pigment, which makes them more affordable and forgiving for practice but sometimes less intense in colour and mixing strength. Artist grade oils use higher pigment loads and more refined binders, giving stronger colour, subtler mixes and better long term stability. For beginner or budget friendly gifts, student or mid range sets are perfect. For experienced painters, individual artist grade tubes or a premium box set feel more special.
 

How long do oil paintings take to dry, and is that a problem for beginners?
Oil paintings usually dry touch dry within a few days to a couple of weeks depending on colour, thickness and medium, and they can take months to fully cure. For beginners this slower drying time is actually a benefit, because it allows more blending and correcting on the surface. Water mixable oils and fast drying mediums can reduce the waiting time for people who want a slightly quicker turnaround without losing the feel of oils.
 

What is a thoughtful oil painting gift for someone who loves seascapes and landscapes?
For seascape and landscape lovers, look for sets that include coastal or earth toned palettes, strong greens and blues, and the right brushes for broad skies and fine details. A curated brush set like the Scott Christensen Paint The Ocean Ultimate Brush Set, paired with a linen canvas or oil pad, is ideal for artists obsessed with beach scenes. You can also add an iridescent pastel or stick set to give them tools for sunlit highlights and reflections.
 

Can you mix oil paint with acrylics or other mediums as part of a gift bundle?
Oil paint should not be mixed wet into acrylic paint on the palette, but it can be layered over fully dry acrylics on a surface. Many artists block in underpaintings with acrylic and switch to oil for final layers and detail. When building a gift bundle, it is safe to combine acrylic and oil friendly surfaces with both types of paint, as long as you remind the artist that oil always goes on top and never underneath acrylic.
 

How do I build an oil painting gift bundle on a budget?
Start with one good paint set, then add one tool and one surface. For example, a water mixable oil set, a basic hog bristle brush set and an oil pad creates a complete starter bundle without going overboard. For more experienced artists you can swap the paint for a couple of premium tubes, add a palette knife or medium, and choose a higher end surface like a linen canvas. Bundling a few well chosen items together always feels more thoughtful than one random product.
 

Wrapping it up

You do not need to be an artist to absolutely nail an oil painting gift. Whether you are shopping for someone nervously cracking their first H2O set or a seasoned painter who dreams in Winton, there is something in this guide that will land with a happy little squeal on Christmas morning. Think in terms of how they paint - slow and layered, coastal and bright, experimental and mixed media - and choose a set, surface or hero brush that makes that part of their practice easier and more exciting.

From budget friendly starter kits and clever little extras to premium linen and show off wooden box sets, our oil painting favourites are ready to wrap, ship and hit the easel as soon as the leftovers are packed away. Ready to build their dream oil kit? Click here to shop Art Shed’s full Christmas sale and snap up your Christmas gifts before the shelves start looking suspiciously bare.