Thanks for the comment. I’m sure you use a careful approach to painting. I hope it was clear from my post that I was talking about Mathis’ description of your methods, not anything directly representative of how you advise people to paint.

I do not swim about in Maroger. I use it when I need to, but I have no idea where this 25% maroger mix came from, certainly not from me. I’ve been in communication with Miles about his article and I think eventually the truth with come forth. Meanwhile kiddies, before you write about someone, it is a good idea to check sources.

ABS is an excellent panel material — if you like smooth gesso-like archival painting supports. I’m sure there are other space age materials that are just as good or even better. Also, it can’t be too dangerous, since the trays in your refrigerator are made from it (as are countless other household products.) I paint a lot of small works on it. I use linen when I work large.

After five decades of painting with Flake White, I’m entirely lead free…..well, as of LAST WEEK! Let us keep tidy, use our brains, don’t spread Maroger Medium on our toast, and above all, follow our art feelings.

Thanks for your comment. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Whitaker is a fine painter and a generous teacher. I took Mathis’s statements about Whitaker at face value, mainly as a means of commenting on Mathis’ opinions. I agree that some sort of exchange between them would probably have been much more productive.

He does pre-mix his fresh paints with maroger each day till they reach a certain consistency and he wet sands the ABS boards before use. The wet sanded ABS board has a smooth gesso-like surface due to it’s microscopically porous nature. Unsanded it has a horrible glossy glean that’s impossible to paint on. What’s nice about it as a well, is that if you’ve got a horrible painting, you can sand it back down to the original surface without losing the board (yeah, they’re kind of expensive). I don’t use it, since I prefer a linen texture surface.

That’s my experience with Whitaker.

All right, you win that one. Though I’d much prefer to own a Mathis or a Whitaker to either of those hacks.

I have no particular problem with well-made Maroger’s used properly. But I definitely prefer to make my own with spike, Canada balsam, and either stand oil or black oil.

Both Whitaker and Mathis are competent painters; I’d probably prefer Whitaker as well. Neither knock my socks off. They both seem to make a living at it, so good for them.

The bad ones are from me not using it properly so the paintings cracked. I have others that I painted in the late 80’s which look fine.
Mastic does have a tendency to move when the temperature rises above 90.
This is a problem, some of my paintings get tacky in very hot weather.
These are on wood panels and nothing has happened.

I like the stuff myself and use Old Masters, which seem to make the best.

I am also moving to mediums such as Spike, Canada Balsam, and Stand Oil.

I never put that much medium in a my paint, 25% is way to much. I would use maybe 10% or less. Or apply it first to the panel or canvas and paint into it. Adding more as you need to whatever color your using.

The ABS thing I don’t know anything about as I have never used it. To expensive and I just don’t like the idea of painting on plastic.

I think it’s funny as Whitaker to my eyes is a much better painter than Mathis, at least to me. Mathis’s problem for me is that his work is very corny bordering on bad kitsch.

William Whitaker on the other hand moves almost to the same extreme but knows when to pull back. Also he seems to have a better handle of value and chroma, which is a big thing to me.