I refined my own linseed oil (from flaxseed oil). It was my understanding that you could 1. put it in a jar in a studio window and age it; 2. put it in a tray in direct sunlight for a period of time then put it in a jar. These have now become very viscous. I thought this was good; that it had become “stand oil”. But reading the Mayer book, I think he says this oil is oxidized and cannot be used due to high likelihood of more yellowing. I believe the people at Natural Pigments said thickened oil has to be heated, not just aged. So my question is: is this ‘studio/outdoor thickened’ oil useless? I would have to mix it with thinner oil or solvent to use it.
Thickened oil made in the studio is always going to be partly oxidized. If oxidation is too advanced, the quality of the final product could be diminished, but if you are following a proven procedure, it’s likely your oil will be usable. Gottsegen’s “The Painter’s Handbook” briefly describes the traditional process in a way that any artist should be able to duplicate. If you’re not sure about what you’ve already made, if the product is skinned over or is darker rather than lighter than the raw material (linseed oil), discard it and try again.
Exposure to sunlight can also induce some polymerization, but homemade thickened oil is never going to yield genuine Stand Oil, which is heated in an oxygen-starved environment to very high temperatures. This procedure well exceeds the limits of what can be done safely and effectively by studio artists. And Stand Oil is so affordable, it would hardly be worth the attempt even if it were not so dangerous and technically difficult.
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