Artist William Whitaker had told me about an oil painting medium called Maroger. He swore by it, and indicated that it was his favorite medium. This medium had been controversial, for many reasons, and yet he emphatically stated to me that it was ok. So, I purchased the ingredients, and made a batch. The medium consists of equal parts of double mastic varnish, and black oil (lead oxide cooked into linseed oil). I made the varnish, and purchased the black oil from Kremer. In combining these products, a soft thixotropic gel forms, and is truly one of the finest painting mediums ever known. I used the medium in the paint for this painting, which was quite literally a practice piece, for using this medium. I also enjoyed painting this. 
 

The Effect of Adding Amber Varnish To Oil Paint

 There truly is something mystical about adding Baltic amber varnish to oil paint. Although certainly all images are dependent on composition, contrast, color, and value, amber seems to decrease the value in the darks, and increase the translucent effects, in high value areas.