Is it bad I didn't even think about the hand washing part? 🤣 I usually just use our regular hand soap. I know if I get anything nicer the kids will just end up giving their dolls baths with it. Though, if it had a string...they are still short...
Former kitchen pro here. Those little finger gloves go over a bandaid after a cut to keep bandages from getting soggy and falling into the food...a gross surprise no one wants! They have a very snug fit, so you could probably scrub at some media without them coming off.
As a massage therapist I use the little finger gloves (finger cots / finger protectors) if I have a cut on my finger. I have found that the massage cream and oil I use break down the latex ones pretty quickly. They won’t even last through a full one hour massage session, but I found silicone finger protectors on Amazon that work very well! They stay on better, and I can sanitize them and reuse them. They would probably work really well for smearing, smooshing, and smudging paints, water soluble media, markers, oil pastels, etc! 👍
Glad you are feeling better..Pollen here in Florida is awful as well. Have you tried Gloves in a Bottle for hand protection. I use this when Im using soft pastels or other paint. Was highly recommend, it's a shielding lotion ...
Good topic Sandi. I tried the "finger cots" and they did fall off, plus I couldn't feel what I was doing - bummer. I wear the stretchy, vinyl-palmed gardening gloves, snug fit but no good for smooshing. The hand cream/protector has allergenic ingredients, for me - so what to do? To add insult to injury, my sink (laundry) has only cold water. We live in the Canadian Rockies and the water is ice cold. Not friendly to arthritic hands. That's my whine for today still, I paint on. Hope you are feeling better!
I had to laugh when you said you thought about the toxicity and then just keep on working. Same! I like the tactility (is that word?) of fingers in the paint/oil pastels. etc. I've thought about trying that barrier cream stuff but never get any further than thinking about it. :D have a gardener's hand cleaning lotion (it's from The Body Shop) that works really well both for soil and paint. It has that bit of grit to it but it's gentle and moisturizing at the same time.
Hi Sandi, I was a little concerned too...only because I am a long time ceramicist and so many materials cross over between our two sports. I find it bizarre that we have a tonne of health hazard knowledge about colourants, in particular oxides. Most sensible potters wouldn't dream of handling these materials like this but nobody really seems that concerned about it in artist products. I wonder if this is a massive oversight in the industry? You should totally decide for yourself, of course, but as a huge favour to yourself look up toxicity concerns for cadmium, copper, cobalt, manganese, nickel and chrome. I think you will be surprised. I totally get the cathartic process of getting your hands dirty (I do this every day!) but please, please look after that special wee vessel of yours! Maybe you could pioneer making smoosh sticks from dowel, twigs, kebab sticks wrapped with padding and fabric as stand in fingers?! X :-)
Yes I totally agree it is an oversight in the industry! In any other industry you’d be wearing masks and gloves and installing special ventilation, but artists are literally taught to be gung-ho in art school- and these pigments and solvents are lethal! I mean cadmium, cobalt, turpentine… you can so easily transfer it to your nose or mouth or an open scratch, or breath the dust, or get it in your cup of tea or on your sandwich. I read a blog post by an artist who one day realised that every single one of his art school mentors had died young except the one that painted solely en plein air. Scary. I used not to worry but I am careful now. I only use pastels or turps outside (warm climate where I live)and use a barrier cream or gloves, and never have food where I’m doing art.
And also since having a child I changed to Rembrandt brand pastels as they don’t use any of the heavy metal pigments. And I refuse to buy any cadmium or cobalt colour. I buy the hues instead. I don’t want my child exposed or my pets licking that stuff off their paws.
Ha ha, and it never crossed my mind - about paint and product on your fingers and hands. But, I guess that's because I've got paint all over my hands, even with cat scratches and kitchen accidents on my hands. But, you should also see my computer keyboard - paint splatters, etc. Pan pastel doesn't come off as easily as you think it would.
Hi Sandi so glad that you are feeling better. I was really interested in how you clean up your hands. Sounds like you have found some great products. I paint at my dinning table and my problem was one getting Himi Gouache out of the carpet when the whole tray fell on the floor during the night. Even though the lids were all on. Oh what an artistic mess. No amount of scrubbing would get it out. I was left with a stain that looked a little like a Japanese lady in a kimono. Couldn’t do it if I tried. Had to buy a rug to cover it up. Not relevant I know but such is an artists life!:)
Hi Sandi, I had the same problem with baby wipes, then I got the idea from a friend to take them out of their original package and put the in a clip-lock box like lock&lock; keeps the wet indefinitely.
I've just started following you, and also just started here on Substack. I found you through "recommendations" under the "art" topic, in case you were wondering. Enjoying what you have on offer! I have a Substack question, (not art related) I hope you don't mind? In this post, I see you reference "last weeks video" and provide a link to your youtube page where the video lives. But I don't see the original video scrolling back through your Substack? Again, I hope you don't mind the question, I'm just doing a deep dive here on Substack and trying to figure out how people manage their videos, posts, etc.
Ah OK - that's what I guessed, only I couldn't see your original post. No worries, I appreciate very much you taking the time to reply. Great to discover you on here, and I'm off to subscribe to your YouTube. You might enjoy mine as well, if you are into learning basketry and/or making ink. Cheers!
So funny that Grady says you’re not a good handwasher…. I have literally been out with my husband to a nice restaurant and he reaches across the table to hold my hand only to find paint still there that I missed! All you can do is laugh. We’re artists. ‘Nuff said.
Haha, I was wondering this exact thing after watching your latest video!
a lot of people were!
Is it bad I didn't even think about the hand washing part? 🤣 I usually just use our regular hand soap. I know if I get anything nicer the kids will just end up giving their dolls baths with it. Though, if it had a string...they are still short...
Former kitchen pro here. Those little finger gloves go over a bandaid after a cut to keep bandages from getting soggy and falling into the food...a gross surprise no one wants! They have a very snug fit, so you could probably scrub at some media without them coming off.
I think I know what you mean - in Canada they're called "finger cots" and look exactly like a wee condom for your finger. Tee hee.
As a massage therapist I use the little finger gloves (finger cots / finger protectors) if I have a cut on my finger. I have found that the massage cream and oil I use break down the latex ones pretty quickly. They won’t even last through a full one hour massage session, but I found silicone finger protectors on Amazon that work very well! They stay on better, and I can sanitize them and reuse them. They would probably work really well for smearing, smooshing, and smudging paints, water soluble media, markers, oil pastels, etc! 👍
good to know!
Hi Sandi
Glad you are feeling better..Pollen here in Florida is awful as well. Have you tried Gloves in a Bottle for hand protection. I use this when Im using soft pastels or other paint. Was highly recommend, it's a shielding lotion ...
Yes, I have some I just never remember to use it and because I wash my hands a decent amount I was it off and then forget to reapply
Good topic Sandi. I tried the "finger cots" and they did fall off, plus I couldn't feel what I was doing - bummer. I wear the stretchy, vinyl-palmed gardening gloves, snug fit but no good for smooshing. The hand cream/protector has allergenic ingredients, for me - so what to do? To add insult to injury, my sink (laundry) has only cold water. We live in the Canadian Rockies and the water is ice cold. Not friendly to arthritic hands. That's my whine for today still, I paint on. Hope you are feeling better!
thanks for letting me know those finger things fall off
I had to laugh when you said you thought about the toxicity and then just keep on working. Same! I like the tactility (is that word?) of fingers in the paint/oil pastels. etc. I've thought about trying that barrier cream stuff but never get any further than thinking about it. :D have a gardener's hand cleaning lotion (it's from The Body Shop) that works really well both for soil and paint. It has that bit of grit to it but it's gentle and moisturizing at the same time.
Hi Sandi, I was a little concerned too...only because I am a long time ceramicist and so many materials cross over between our two sports. I find it bizarre that we have a tonne of health hazard knowledge about colourants, in particular oxides. Most sensible potters wouldn't dream of handling these materials like this but nobody really seems that concerned about it in artist products. I wonder if this is a massive oversight in the industry? You should totally decide for yourself, of course, but as a huge favour to yourself look up toxicity concerns for cadmium, copper, cobalt, manganese, nickel and chrome. I think you will be surprised. I totally get the cathartic process of getting your hands dirty (I do this every day!) but please, please look after that special wee vessel of yours! Maybe you could pioneer making smoosh sticks from dowel, twigs, kebab sticks wrapped with padding and fabric as stand in fingers?! X :-)
Yes I totally agree it is an oversight in the industry! In any other industry you’d be wearing masks and gloves and installing special ventilation, but artists are literally taught to be gung-ho in art school- and these pigments and solvents are lethal! I mean cadmium, cobalt, turpentine… you can so easily transfer it to your nose or mouth or an open scratch, or breath the dust, or get it in your cup of tea or on your sandwich. I read a blog post by an artist who one day realised that every single one of his art school mentors had died young except the one that painted solely en plein air. Scary. I used not to worry but I am careful now. I only use pastels or turps outside (warm climate where I live)and use a barrier cream or gloves, and never have food where I’m doing art.
And also since having a child I changed to Rembrandt brand pastels as they don’t use any of the heavy metal pigments. And I refuse to buy any cadmium or cobalt colour. I buy the hues instead. I don’t want my child exposed or my pets licking that stuff off their paws.
Ha ha, and it never crossed my mind - about paint and product on your fingers and hands. But, I guess that's because I've got paint all over my hands, even with cat scratches and kitchen accidents on my hands. But, you should also see my computer keyboard - paint splatters, etc. Pan pastel doesn't come off as easily as you think it would.
I never thought about the toxicity of the products! 😱I’m so bummed as I love being able to feel what I’m doing. 😩
Absolutely love this! thanks for sharing..think I will go make some soap!
Dawn dishwashing liquid clears up most oil based products.
Hi Sandi so glad that you are feeling better. I was really interested in how you clean up your hands. Sounds like you have found some great products. I paint at my dinning table and my problem was one getting Himi Gouache out of the carpet when the whole tray fell on the floor during the night. Even though the lids were all on. Oh what an artistic mess. No amount of scrubbing would get it out. I was left with a stain that looked a little like a Japanese lady in a kimono. Couldn’t do it if I tried. Had to buy a rug to cover it up. Not relevant I know but such is an artists life!:)
Hi Sandi, I had the same problem with baby wipes, then I got the idea from a friend to take them out of their original package and put the in a clip-lock box like lock&lock; keeps the wet indefinitely.
I've just started following you, and also just started here on Substack. I found you through "recommendations" under the "art" topic, in case you were wondering. Enjoying what you have on offer! I have a Substack question, (not art related) I hope you don't mind? In this post, I see you reference "last weeks video" and provide a link to your youtube page where the video lives. But I don't see the original video scrolling back through your Substack? Again, I hope you don't mind the question, I'm just doing a deep dive here on Substack and trying to figure out how people manage their videos, posts, etc.
I have a youtube channel and that's the video and link - it was a reference back to a substack post. I should have mentioned that
Ah OK - that's what I guessed, only I couldn't see your original post. No worries, I appreciate very much you taking the time to reply. Great to discover you on here, and I'm off to subscribe to your YouTube. You might enjoy mine as well, if you are into learning basketry and/or making ink. Cheers!
So funny that Grady says you’re not a good handwasher…. I have literally been out with my husband to a nice restaurant and he reaches across the table to hold my hand only to find paint still there that I missed! All you can do is laugh. We’re artists. ‘Nuff said.
I agree - I DO wash my hands a lot and good - I just miss some spots sometimes I guess - not sure what happens