Sun-thickened walnut and linseed oil preparations.
Yesterday I put out a batch of linseed and walnut oil to thicken in the sun on lead trays.
For many years I made my own, but after Zecchi finally got their sun-thickened linseed oil to the right consistency I started using theirs. Store bought sun-thickened oils are usually ‘August’ oils however, meaning they put it out in the very hot summer months where it thickens very fast. This year I wanted to try a ‘Spring’ oil, which takes much longer to thicken, but should absorb more oxygen at the same time. My medium is one part sun-thickened linseed oil mixed with one part thinned-down Canada Balsam (cut 1:1 with turpentine) and I use a lot of it, so its important that the quality is very high.
Thickening oil in the Mutus Liber?
Years ago I stumbled across an old alchemical treatise called the ‘Mutus Liber’ , or ‘Silent Book’. Its called this as no one knows what exactly the book is about. One image stood out because it looked like they could have been thickening oil for a painting medium. The accompanying text said the ram and bull represented Aries and Taurus, and that the trays were put out in April and May to collect the creative energy of the Spring. Any little edge helps I suppose…