Oil pastels are sticks of pigment held in oil and wax: bold, creamy color with no water, no brushes and no drying time. The best oil pastels for beginners give you enough colors to work without mixing every shade, and a stick soft enough to blend by hand. This guide explains how they differ from soft pastels and crayons and names two sets to start with.
Research-based, not hands-on tested. Color counts, sizes and texture come from each maker’s listing; the advice on paper, blending and storage is established practice. I did not draw with these sets. My method.
The short answer
For a first set, buy Pentel Arts’ 50-color oil pastels: a big palette, a carrying case and an AP non-toxic label, so it also works for a family table. If blending is what draws you to the medium, choose MUNGYO’s Gallery Soft set of 48, which the maker describes as soft and blendable by finger or stump. Either way, use paper with some tooth.
Oil pastels vs soft pastels vs crayons
| Oil pastels | Soft (chalk) pastels | Wax crayons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binder | Non-drying oil and wax | A little gum | Wax |
| Feel | Creamy, slightly sticky | Powdery and dusty | Hard and waxy |
| Blending | Finger, stump or cotton swab | Finger or stump, easily | Limited |
| Fixative | Does not set; frame behind glass | Usually sprayed | Not needed |
| Best for | Bold color, layering, scratching back | Soft tone, portraits, skies | Young kids |
“Pastels for beginners” can mean either kind. Oil pastels are the cleaner choice for a desk or a kitchen table: no dust, and nothing to spray. Because the oil never fully dries, a finished page stays slightly soft to the touch.
How many colors do you need?
More than with paint. Oil pastels mix on the paper, not on a palette, and every blend dulls a little, so a set of 36 to 50 colors saves you from muddy mixes. Look for a few greens, browns and grays, not only bright primaries. White wears down fastest: you use it to lighten, blend and add highlights.
My picks: the best oil pastels for beginners
Research-basedPentel Arts Oil Pastels, 50 Color Set (PHN-50)
Best everyday starter set
$7.49List Price: $11.03Save 32%
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:37 UTCDetails
Price and availability show on Amazon.
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Colors
- 50
- Stick size
- Not stated
Fifty colors with a carrying case, made for paper, canvas and board. A big palette for the money, so you spend your first weeks drawing rather than mixing.
Fifty colors in a carrying case. Pentel describes the color as applying smoothly and blending easily, acid-free and resistant to humidity, and lists paper, canvas and board as surfaces. The listing names adults, teens and children and the set carries the AP non-toxic seal, which suits a set shared around a household.
Good fit if
- Beginners who want many ready-made colors in one set
- Families and classrooms; the listing names adults, teens and children and carries the AP non-toxic seal
- Trying the medium before spending more on artist-grade sticks
Skip it if
- You want the softest, most buttery sticks; the listing does not describe these as soft
- You need a stated lightfastness rating for work you plan to sell; the listing says only "fade-resistant"
All maker specs
- Colors
- 50
- Stick size
- Not stated
- Texture
- Applies smoothly, blends easily (per listing)
- Surfaces
- Paper, canvas and board (per listing)
- Includes
- Carrying case (per listing)
- Safety label
- AP non-toxic (per listing)
Worth knowing
- Oil pastels never fully dry; store finished pages with a sheet of paper over them.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 13, 2026 for this exact variant: 50 colors (model PHN-50).How I pick
Research-basedMUNGYO Gallery Soft Oil Pastel Set, 48 Colors (MOPV-48)
Best for soft blending
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Colors
- 48
- Stick size
- About 70 × 10 mm (2.76 × 0.39 in)
MUNGYO's Gallery line of soft oil pastels: 48 colors, one round stick per shade. Soft sticks lay down color with little pressure and blend by finger or stump, which is most of the fun of the medium.
Forty-eight colors, one round stick per shade, about 70 mm long and 10 mm thick. MUNGYO describes the formula as soft, gliding onto paper with light pressure for lines and firm pressure for dense coverage, and blending by fingertip, paper stump or cloth. Soft sticks snap more easily; the maker suggests holding them near the drawing end.
Good fit if
- Blending and layering by hand, with light pressure
- Older beginners and adults who want to explore soft blending
Skip it if
- You want a carrying case; the listing does not mention one
- The pastels will go to young children who press hard; soft sticks snap more easily
All maker specs
- Colors
- 48
- Stick size
- About 70 × 10 mm (2.76 × 0.39 in)
- Texture
- Soft, oil-based (per listing)
- Surfaces
- Sketchbooks, pastel paper, card stock (per listing)
Worth knowing
- The maker advises gripping soft sticks near the drawing end and storing the box away from heat so they stay firm.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 13, 2026 for this exact variant: 48 colors, one round stick per shade (model MOPV-48).How I pick
Two oil pastel sets, makers' specs
| Set | Colors | Stick size | Texture | Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My pickPentel Arts Oil Pastels, 50 Color Set (PHN-50) | 50 | Not stated | Applies smoothly, blends easily (per listing) | $7.49as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:37 UTCDetails | View on Amazon |
| MUNGYO Gallery Soft Oil Pastel Set, 48 Colors (MOPV-48) | 48 | About 70 × 10 mm (2.76 × 0.39 in) | Soft, oil-based (per listing) | $19.40as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:37 UTCDetails | View on Amazon |
Paper and tools
- Paperoil pastel needs tooth to grip. Pastel paper, heavy drawing paper or mixed-media paper all work; smooth printer paper fills up after one layer. My sketchbook guide matches paper to medium.
- Blendingfingers work, but a paper stump or cotton swab keeps colors cleaner.
- Scrapera toothpick or old palette knife scratches back through layers to the color below (sgraffito).
- Paper towelwipe each stick clean after it touches another color, or the next stroke carries the mix.
Five beginner tips
- Start light. Lay the first layer with gentle pressure so the paper’s tooth stays open for more layers.
- Light over dark works, to a point. Oil pastel is opaque enough to add light colors on top, but once the tooth is full, new color slides around instead of sticking.
- Blend between similar colors. Blending two neighbors on the color wheel stays bright; blending opposites goes brown.
- Peel or snap the stick. Use the side of a short piece for broad areas and the tip for detail.
- Keep it cool. Warm sticks get softer and smudgier; store the box away from heat.
Questions
Are oil pastels good for beginners?
Yes. They need no water, brushes or drying time, and they forgive mistakes: you can scrape back or cover a color. The habits they teach, layering and blending, carry over to colored pencils.
Do oil pastels need fixative?
Ordinary pastel fixative is made for soft pastels. Most artists frame oil pastel work behind glass with a mat, so the glass does not touch the surface, and keep sketchbook pages separated with a loose sheet of paper.
Are oil pastels safe for kids?
Look for the AP non-toxic seal, which the Pentel set carries. For younger children, thicker, harder sticks break less than soft artist sticks. My art kits for kids guide covers sets by age.
Can I use oil pastels on canvas?
Yes. Pentel lists canvas and board as well as paper. Choose primed canvas or board, and frame the work, since the surface stays soft.