To Get a Painterly Effect Without the Mess, Here Are the Best Oil Sticks
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Like oil paint in a convenient, easy-to-hold form, oil sticks consist of a blend of pigmented drying oil and wax. These chunky tools are softer than oil pastels, so using them feels more like painting than drawing. And, unlike oil pastels, oil sticks will dry completely with time. Oil sticks are great to try out if oil paint strikes you as an intimidating medium. Easier to mix and control, they can be used to create effects similar to those of traditional oils and require the same drying and curing processes. Since the sticks are composed of pigment and wax, they can also be used in encaustic painting, and they work well for monoprinting too. Suffice it to say, oil pigment sticks open up a world of possibilities. Because this medium can be very costly, it’s important to buy a good-quality set that feels comfortable and satisfying. Here are some oil paint sticks that we like best.
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ARTNEWS RECOMMENDS
Sennelier Artists’ Oil Sticks
These artist-grade oil sticks from Sennelier contain nothing more than pigment, fine safflower oil, and mineral wax. The glossy paint glides onto your surface and usually dries in 24 hours or less, leaving a rich, deeply pigmented color. The sticks are available individually in a 38-milliliter size, good for sketching or detail work, or a 24-piece set of “mini” sticks. Some colors are also made in a hefty 96-milliliter version, to cover a broad area with ease. The line comes in 55 colors, and hues can be mixed to provide even more options.
Buy: $8.30–$97.47
Sennelier Artists’ Oil Sticks
STUDENTS’ CHOICE
Richeson Shiva Student Grade Paintstik Oils
The student-grade Shiva Paintstiks have many of the same qualities as the higher-grade Paintstiks—they are easy to use, highly blendable, and fast-drying. Like all student-grade paints, they are less pigmented than higher-priced versions, but they are still bright and true, and the price is very accessible, making these a smart choice for the art room. Choose from a pack of 6 or a 12-pack containing the full line of student-grade colors. Each stick is 37 milliliters.
Buy: $23.88–$50.34
Richeson Shiva Student Grade Paintstik Oils
ARTISTS’ CHOICE
R&F Pigment Sticks and Sets
R&F makes buttery oil sticks that stand out from other options. These tools have a bit of a learning curve if you are used to the more crayonlike experience of oil pastels, but once mastered, the fluid experience of using these sticks is unmatched. The colors are bright and, due in part to the natural waxes used, the paint can be manipulated on a canvas, often without the need for additional oil or thinners. Choose from 104 colors in three sizes (38, 100, or 188 milliliters), or go for a set of 3, 6, or 12 sticks.
Buy: $11.16–$162.36
R&F Pigment Sticks and Sets
ANOTHER OPTION
Richeson Shiva Oilstik Oil Paints and Sets
One factor to consider when choosing an oil stick is the experience of holding and using it. The Richeson Shiva Paintstik makes our list because of the sheer pleasure of working with it. The paint has a thick consistency and does not soften from the heat of your hand, and the stick’s heavy label stays put but is still easy to tear. The colors are consistent, the drying time is fast (mostly within 24 hours), and the selection is plentiful. Paintstiks come in 55 colors and three sizes: a 12-milliliter mini stick, a 37-milliliter version, and a jumbo, 130-milliliter option.
Buy: $8.64–$192.22
Richeson Shiva Oilstik Oil Paints and Sets
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1. Jack Richeson Oil Paintstik Professional Set
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These oil sticks, sold in a set of 12, have a nice firmness to them, which makes them easy to control when adding lines and details to paintings. While they are not as creamy as some of our other picks, they are professional-level tools that blend well; the Shiva line also offers a colorless blender Paintstik to ease the process. These are self-sealing sticks, developing a skin over time to keep the interior fresh. Artists might also be drawn to their relatively fast drying time: in most cases, the paint is dry to the touch in one day.
Buy: Jack Richeson Oil Paintstik Professional Set
2. R&F Oil Pigment Stick Set
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R&F’s oil sticks are often likened to lipstick. Indeed, like the best lip moisturizer, these boast a creamy consistency that yields a soothing glide—they are even softer than the Senneliers product below. This pleasing pliability stems from R&F’s ingredients: pure pigment, natural wax (beeswax and plant) and linseed oil come together in sticks that are carefully milled and molded in small batches. Each stick deposits rich colors that blend easily and can be manipulated with a brush or palette knife. Because these pastels are made without additives, they do have a longer drying time than our other options, and drying times vary by color, but R&F provides a handy chart you can consult to plan ahead.
Buy: R&F Oil Pigment Stick Set
3. Jack Richeson Oil Paintstik Student Set
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If you are a newcomer to oil sticks, consider Jack Richeson’s student-grade set, which provides a range of 12 standard colors. Like the professional product, these are firm and fast-drying sticks that can help you learn the basics of oil paints without dealing with a lot of tools (and subsequent messes). Although they contain less pigment than their pro counterparts, the colors are still very vibrant and opaque. They are easy to blend when used alone, and they integrate well with oil paints, too.
Buy: Jack Richeson Oil Paintstik Student Set
4. Van Gogh Oil Pastels
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If you aren’t quite ready to commit to oil sticks, oil pastels are a great alternative. Made with a much lower oil content than oil sticks, they are non-drying and are particularly useful tools for sketching. This product from Van Gogh is a high-quality, student-grade set, with pastels that feel firm and perform beautifully, mixing easily and going on smoothly without flaking. They have high pigment-to-binder ratio, which results in deep and intense colors whether applied alone, over acrylics, or blended with oils. With 12 to 60 sticks in a set, you also get an excellent range of hues to work with.
5. Sennelier Artist Oil Sticks
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Sennelier, which developed artist-grade oil pastels for Pablo Picasso in 1949, has long been known for its professional-quality and premium products. The brand’s oil sticks are among the industry’s best. With a smooth feel and saturated colors, they are a worthwhile investment that will last a long time. The sticks are made of pure pigment, safflower oil, and high-quality mineral wax, and while they spread smoothly, they have just the right amount of drag and aren’t so soft that they crumble under pressure. This set of six will start you off with red, yellow, and blue, plus green, black, and white, and if you like them you can purchase other colors individually as needed.
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Buy: Sennelier Artist Oil Sticks
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