Portrait Artist Forum - A tube of Maroger

Adriano, I'd like to suggest you can make your own Maroger's with much less expense, but it requires some effort (and patience) to obtain and prepare the materials.

I use Maroger's, and find it to be an excellent handling medium. Many detractors of this material may have good reasons for their opinions, as mediums identified as "Maroger's" are often confused with "meguilp", or are poorly prepared from inferior materials. Some preparations are not pure natural-resin/oil compounds, but concoctions of synthetic resins, petrochemicals and bentonite or fumed silica, which are capable of mimicking the thixotropic properties of Maroger's Medium.

I have not used any of the Maroger's preparations put up in tubes. One of the problems with tubing this medium is that lead in the compound reacts adversely with aluminum, and lead-tin foil tubes are no longer available.

The best Maroger's is mixed fresh each painting session, using equal parts of saturated mastic and black oil, although it "keeps" quite well for a few days (especially if stored in the refrigerator).

I'd think you should be able to obtain Chios Mastic with relative ease in Italy. The Chios Mastic Growers' Assn. has a website, and you can purchase mastic via the internet in Europe.

Dissolve approx. 340 grams of mastic in about 20 oz. of high quality turpentine in a quart jar. Suspend the mastic in the toe of an old nylon sock, the resin will not disperse into the turpentine unless it is suspended. This takes a few days, and it's even better to have the solution laid by for a while, waxes and other inclusions will settle out leaving a very pure, water-clear varnish.

You can make black oil by cooking good quality linseed oil with lab grade litharge. Stir approx. 1.6 oz. of the litharge into a quart of oil, and heat to 175 degrees F. Stir constantly - the litharge will form an immoveable mass at the bottom of the pot if not continually agitated. Don't allow the oil to overheat, and cook until the solution clarifies. When the milky, ochre-colored solution begins to clear, the color deepens to brown. Check for clarity by putting a drop of oil on clean white paper. Use an enamelled pan to cook the oil, do not use an aluminum vessel (that chemical reaction again!)

Simply mix equal parts of saturated mastic and black oil in a palette cup when you begin your painting session. The mix will form a gel within a minute or two.

All this said, if you choose to purchase mediums, try :

www.studioproducts.com

This company regularly mails orders to Europe. If that doesn't work for you, send me a PM through this site, and we'll figure out a way to get you some! Heck, send me a PM anyway, if you have questions, or if I can be of any help.