SUNTHICKENED  OIL :
THE SUPERIOR LINSEED/ FLAX OIL OF THE
OLD MASTERS
THIS OIL IS FAST DRYING

EXAMPLE OF 30 DAY SUN THICKENED FLAX OIL: PROCESSED
FROM UNREFINED FLAX OIL, CLEANSED OF MUCILAGE BY
NON CAUSTIC METHODS, SUN AND AIR EXPOSED FOR 30
DAYS IN SUMMER SUN. ONCE YOU TRY THE SUPERIOR OIL I
DESCRIBE ABOVE , YOU WILL KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.


I ENCOURAGE ARTISTS TO BUY THEIR CALCIUM CARBONATE/
CHALK FROM CHAMPAGNE, DIRECTLY FROM  
www.kremer-pigmente.de  THIS GERMAN COMPANY HAS
DISTRIBUTORS WORLDWIDE. IN THE USA, THEY HAVE 2
OFFICES IN NEW YORK.


I ENCOURAGE ARTISTS TO CLEANSE THEIR OWN UNREFINED
FLAX OIL WITH THE REMARKABLY EFFICENT AND EASY
'PSYLLIUM HUSK-ALCOHOL" METHOD.  
YOU WILL SEE HOW EASY AND INEXPENSIVELY IT IS TO
MAKE YOUR OWN SUPERIOR OIL OF THE OLD MASTERS.

FRESH CLEANSED OIL :  IT WILL BE BRIGHT YELLOW AND FULLY TRANSPARENT. THIS NON-SUNNED OIL IS STILL-A SLOW
DRYING OIL.

Once the oil is cleansed of its damaging mucilage, it can be used for several important tasks in the 'Calcite Sun Oil / Emulsions' method of oil
painting.

1. It is ready to be sun thickened .Sun thickening takes 20-30 days depending on geographical area and season. This process produces the
VERY FINEST OIL or oil painting. FAR SUPERIOR to walnut, poppy, or any other oils used by some. This is the PREMIER oil used by the
greatest European Old Masters, the one spoken of by the Renaissance master, Cennino Cennini.

2. Before the oil is sun thickened, it is limpid and yellow. It is used to make the simple ' Non Viscous' Emulsion" described in my book. The
Non Viscous Emulsion serves important tasks not offered by the Viscous Emulsion. If not applied correctly, the Emulsions will fail.

3. Once this oil is Sun thickened, it is viscous and bleached.
It is then used to make the' Viscous Emulsion". Both emulsions are made within 30 seconds if the glair is available. Glair takes 5 minutes to
make. Both EMULSIONS are crucial to oil painting without solvents, resins and varnishes or driers.




THICKEN YOUR LINSEED-FLAX OIL
ARTISTS HAVE THREE CHOICES TO THICKEN THEIR OIL

"THE REBIRTH OF THE OLD MASTERS' SUPERIOR OIL"
SUN THICKENED LINSEED FLAXSEED OIL

1. The Old Masters' traditional Sun Thickening/ Bleaching
method takes approximately 15 to 60 days

2. "THE NEW AIR PUMP METHOD" THICKENS AND BLEACHES THE OIL
WITH AN AQUARIUM AIR PUMP  IN 15- 18 DAYS

3. Use of fire heat is not recommended:  caution with this potentially hazard method
AFTER 5 DAYS : The photo to your
right  shows a sample- read more on
my main page--scroll down  

This sample dries in under 48 hours-
it is still not viscous enough.

THIS SLOW DRYING OIL WOULD
BE GOOD FOR GRINDING
POWDERS IF ONE WISHED TO
HAND GRIND
AFTER TEN
DAYS= The
photo to your
right shows an oil
that is even more
viscous and
faster drying--
DRYING within 5
to 14 hours
when used to
make CSO
7/18/2012=
4 jars of the oil- sample
at 5 days- 10, 15, and
18 days.
The oils were mixed with
chalk to make the CSO
then mixed with tube oil
paint --- the  10 to 18
day oil -- dried within 5  
to  under 14 hours.
PHOTOS SHOW THE SET
UP OF THE AIR PUMP

PLACE THE ACTUAL
PUMP ABOVE THE OIL

LOOSELY COVER THE
TOP OF THE JAR WITH
CELLOPHANE BAG TO
PREVENT DUST OR
DEBRIS OR MOISTURE


THE MODERN METHOD OF THICKENING THE OIL WITH THE AIR PUMP
SEE THE EXTRAORDINARY MUCILAGE REMOVAL METHOD
"CSO PSYLLIUM HUSK-AIR PUMP ( VELASQUEZ-TAVENIER) METHOD"
SEE  THE RECIPE AND PROCEDURES ON THE PAGE :  CLEANSING FLAX OIL - or - WASHING LINSEED OIL

SEE THE YOUTUBE VIDEO ON THE NEW " AIR PUMP OIL" -
CLICK TO SEE THE VIDEO:   HERE

THE SUPERIOR OIL OF THE OLD MASTERS
END OF PAGE
ALL PHOTOS AND TEXT ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
BY LOUIS R. VELASQUEZ

Thank You
IN 2012, AN ARTIST FROM BELGIUM  

SENT ME TWO SAMPLES OF 'PURIFIED' FLAX-LINSEED OIL THAT SHE
BOUGHT FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. SHE GAVE NO INFORMATION
ON HOW THE OIL WAS ' PURIFIED'.

IN THE PHOTO THEY ARE LABELED No 1  AND No.2
IN THE PHOTO THE THIRD BOTTLE IS MY SAMPLE OF COLD
PRESSED FLAX OIL CLEANSED BY THE CSO PSYLLIUM HUSK
ALCOHOL METHOD.

THE THREE BOTTLES WERE PLACED IN MY FREEZER
AND LEFT THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
NOTICE THAT BOTH HER SAMPLES ARE CLOUDY. THIS INDICATES
THEY CONTAIN MUCILAGE [ WHICH IS PARTIALLY AQUEOUS] OR
MOISTURE.

THE CSO SAMPLE IS FULLY TRANSPARENT. THIS INDICATES ALL
THE MUCILAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED BY THE CSO HUSK/ALCOHOL
CLEANSING METHOD




THE NEXT PHOTO SHOWS THAT BOTH OF HER SAMPLES HAD
MUCILAGE.
I PLACED SAMPLES OF HER OIL ON TOP OF WATER AND LET IT
STAND STILL FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
THE WATER IS 'POLAR' AND DRAWS THE MUCILAGE DOWNWARDS  
INTO THE WATER AND IT ACCUMULATES ALSO AT THE JUNCTION
BETWEEN OIL AND WATER.

THE SAMPLE NUMBER 1 HAD MORE  MUCILAGE THAN SAMPLE
NUMBER 2
CALCITE SUN OIL

COMPARING THE  OLD MASTERS' SUN THICKENING METHOD WITH THE
MODERN AIR PUMP METHOD WHERE THE OIL IS THICKENED BY THE AIR.  


THE MODERN AIR PUMP METHOD WILL BLEACH AND THICKEN THE OIL IN 15 TO 18 DAYS.
THE AIR PUMP CAN BE USED WHEN THE AIR IS DAMP, WET OR HUMID IF SOME DRY PSYLLIUM HUSK IS MIXED WITH THE OIL. SEE THOSE
INSTRUCTIONS..
THE AIR PUMP OIL IS BLEACHED FASTER THAN THE SUN EXPOSED OIL IF THE OIL IS  EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT DURING THE AIR PUMP PROCESS.
MY TESTS SHOW THAT IF THE AIR PUMP IS USED PAST A 15 DAY PERIOD, IT CAUSES THE OIL PAINT TO WRINKLE BADLY WHEN MIXED WITH IT.
WRINKLING OF THE PAINT CAN BE PREVENTED BY ADDING 2 OR 3 DROPS OF THE "NON-VISCOUS EMULSION" TO THE BLOB OF PAINT AND MIXING IT
WELL WITH A PALETTE KNIFE.

THE OLD MASTERS METHOD REQUIRES ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 60 DAYS. THE TIME REQUIRED DEPENDS ON THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER SUN.
THE THICKER VISCOSITY BY THE SUN.....IS BECAUSE THE SUN'S UV RAYS IMPACT THE OIL ...
.WHILE USE OF ONLY AIR WITHOUT ANY DIRECT SUN HEAT....DOES NOT.
THE OLD MASTERS THICKENED THEIR OIL BY STIRRING IT DAILY AS IT WAS EXPOSED TO HOT SUMMER SUN.
THE HEAT AND THE UV RAYS FROM THE SUN..AND THE AIR...ARE ALL NEEDED FOR THICKENING AND BLEACHING THE OIL

THE PROBLEM WITH  HEATING THE OIL INDOORS BY HIGH TEMPERATURE FIRE, IS THAT IT YELLOWS THE OIL.
THE OLD MASTER METHOD OF SUN THICKENING THE OIL
The traditional Old Master method makes a beautiful, viscous faster drying oil

PROCEDURE:
Use a white opaque glassware container like those used in baking. This type container accelerates the thickening 2X faster than a clear glass container.
Expose the oil to the direct sun rays of hot dry summer weather for between 15 to 60 days, depending on how hot and dry it is in your area.
Stir the oil 2X each day for one minute. Do this thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. In extreme hot areas stir the oil more times each day, to
prevent skinning of the oil.
Protect the oil from rain or moisture. Place a clear glass sheet over the container with spacers to allow air to circulate.

BLEACHED COLOR
Within 2 weeks the oil begins to become bleached. With more time it will become water clear in color. This color is temporary , because when the oil is removed
and placed indoors it will become a very pale straw color. However, this color is deceiving because you are seeing it in concentration in the jar. To test the actual
color, place one drop on a pure white glazed ceramic plate and rub it in. You will see it is fully transparent and colorless like glass.

TEST THE OIL FOR DRYING RATE AND VISCOSITY
The oil is ready when it meets your needs.
Some artists prefer a thick very fast drying viscous oil, and others prefer a less viscous slower drying oil. Periodically take a few drops and mix it with a small
amount of oil paint, then, smear it on a piece of glazed tile or a ceramic plate to see how fast it will dry. Do two tests. One with tube oil paint and one with dry
pigment colors. Be aware that all colors dry at different rates. Umber dries within 6 to 10 hours , and white tube oil paint can dry very slow because many are
manufactured with slow drying poppy oil.

FILTERING THE FINISHED OIL
The Old Master method requires a final filtering of the oil to remove bugs, dirt, dust and leaves. These are easily removed. Use a plastic funnel and place a wad
of cheesecloth , loosely into the neck. Place the funnel over a clean jar and pour the oil into the funnel. Allow several hours for the oil to drain.

STORAGE OF THE OIL
Store your oil in tall thin clear glass jars. Tighten the lid tightly, then loosen the lid 1/4 turn to allow expansion air release. Keep the extra stored jars full of oil.
The oil in Half full jars will continue to thicken because of the air. Place the oil jars in a window to get light. It does not have to have direct sun rays.
HEDDA'S CLEAR PLASTIC BOX

My friend from Italy, Hedda Gjerpen, SOLVED
A PROBLEM that has long plagued me.

AND...it was so simple!

Here is her photo [ 2016] of HOW she uses a
clear plastic box to PLACE her oil , as it is sun
thickening.

Over the years, as I sun thickened my
oil..sometimes I would spill the oil all over the
table
Other times it splattered as I was stirring the oil.
What a mess I used to have.

HEDDA says that the lid must be kept on the
container and she leaves a spacer in one
corner to let oxygen in.

As we know sometimes rain happens!! without
warning, and this box will protect the oil.

THANK YOU HEDDA
PS: My new upcoming book will have a long
article on HEDDA'S BOX