If you have chosen to use regular oil paints (that is, not the water-soluble type), the next step is to decide whether to buy student or artist
grade paints. Here are the differences:
- artist grade oil paints have much higher levels of pigmentation that student grade oil paints, so they go further which makes them more economical in the long run
- since student grade oil paints have less pigmentation, they are less expensive than artist grade oil paints
- you have a greater range of colors to choose from with artist grade oil paints
- student grade oil paints are generally hues (or imitation) colors to reduce toxicity and/or cost
- student grade oil paints do not mix as well as artist grade oil paints