10 Best Oil Pastel 2025 in the United States

The Artecho Oil Pastels set offers 48 vibrant colors made with high-quality pigments, making it a solid choice for anyone looking to explore or develop oil pastel art. The pastels have a soft texture, which makes blending and shading easier—great for creating smooth transitions or expressive effects like scratching and dotting. Each pastel is nicely sized and individually wrapped to prevent breakage, which is handy for artists on the go or students.

The wide color range supports creativity, and users generally praise the pastels’ smooth application and vibrant results. Artecho’s brand reputation in the art supplies community is positive, with many users appreciating the value for both beginners and more experienced artists. Advanced professionals seeking archival-quality pastels might want to research more on long-term durability and colorfastness.

This set is well-suited for students, hobbyists, and anyone starting with oil pastels who wants an affordable, colorful, and easy-to-use option.

The Pentel Oil Pastels - Set 50 offers a wide color range with 50 vibrant shades, making it a strong choice for artists looking to explore variety. These pastels have a creamy, soft texture that makes them easy to apply and blend smoothly, which is great for creating subtle color transitions or bold effects. Their colors are fade-resistant, meaning your artwork will maintain its brightness over time. You can use them directly on various surfaces like canvas or paper and even dilute the pastels with mineral spirits for a more liquid, painterly look.

Pentel is known for producing good-quality art supplies. While the pastels blend well, they are wax-oil based, so they might feel a bit greasy compared to traditional chalk pastels, which some users may or may not prefer. This set is well-suited for beginners, hobbyists, and experienced artists who want reliable, easy-to-use oil pastels with a broad palette.

The Paul Rubens Oil Pastel set features 72 vibrant colors, making it an appealing choice for artists looking to enhance their creative expression. One of its standout strengths is the creamy texture, which allows for smooth blending and a variety of techniques, ideal for both beginners and experienced artists. This feature can truly help users achieve beautiful gradients and layered effects in their artwork. Additionally, the high-quality materials used in these pastels contribute to their lightfastness, ensuring that your creations maintain their vividness over time. The unique bullet head design also aids in precision, enabling artists to create both fine details and broader strokes with ease.

However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. While the soft texture is great for blending, some users might find them too soft for detailed work, potentially leading to breakage if not handled carefully. Beginners might also need some time to get accustomed to the pastel's characteristics. Moreover, although the set offers a broad color range, some users may desire even more unique shades for specific techniques.

The Paul Rubens Oil Pastel set is a versatile and high-quality choice for artists, providing rich colors and a smooth blending experience. It's particularly suited for those interested in exploring various artistic techniques, although caution is advised for those focused on detailed work.