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Originally Posted by Richard Monro
. . . most of what has been offered so far, while well intentioned, is opinion . . .
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Unfortunately, when advice on paint additives is requested, all answers are opinions regardless what facts, inaccuracies or good intentions entail. Definitive answers require the individual painter to acquire adequate knowledge through study, experience and testing to make pragmatic decisions as to which materials are compatible with his/her art.
Mayer's compendium is useful. It is not the final arbiter of questions about mediums and paint additives. His blanket condemnation of copal mediums in particular requires background. I am disposed to accept a wider viewpoint; I studied with Frederick Taubes, and grew up reading "Studio Secrets" and his Q/A tech page in "American Artist" long before Ralph Mayer held forth in that publication.
Taubes' technical knowledge resulted from extensive analysis and testing throughout a lifetime of concentrated study and interest in painting materials and methods. He favored the use of copal, and made varnishes and mediums of exceptional quality at a time when finer grades of Congo Copal were available. These were marketed through Permanent Pigments (now Liquitex). Apparently personal rancor existed between Mssrs. Taubes and Mayer, whose motives for condemning copal and its use may have been inspired by a desire to rankle Mr. Taubes rather than from strictly objective analyses. Consequently, certain of Mr. Mayer's pronouncements also qualify as opinion.