Calligraphy: A Scribe's Notes - Art Blog
Inky Fingers
by calligraphy , June 12, 2009—12:00 AM
No matter how fastidious you are, we all get ink and gouache and paint on our hands sometimes. I try to keep my work area immaculate especially when working on a final piece, one little over-dip, one fumble and you're done. I have had many a struggle with an ink bottle cap and lost. Fountain pens and their maintenance are the worst offenders. I should just accept that ink is going to get all over the place and put on an apron and some laytex gloves before tackling a fountain pen.
Some materials stain more than others and can be tough to get off. Dye based inks that are not lightfast will come off pretty easily and any residue stain will fade. Permanent and waterproof inks are harder to get off. So, how do you get ink stains off your fingers? In a recent Cyberscribes discussion some of the top suggestions were:
1. Pumice stone and dish detergent 2. Clorox Bleach and a scrub brush 3. Marvelous Marianne's Savvy Soap Hand and Brush Cleaner 4. An electric toothbrush and hand cleaner 5. GoJo, (hardware store) 6. Double D Eucalyptus oil 7. Baby Wipes 8. Clorox wipes 9. Electric toothbrush and Windex 10. Leave them there, they will wear off
I thought the electric toothbrush was pretty novel. Personally, I stay away from bleach on my skin. Harsh cleansers will take the stains off and some of your skin along with it, so use the least amount possible.
I prefer Baking Soda and Peroxide to clean paint and ink off my hands. That mixture is good for cleaning almost anything, teeth, sink, bathtub, kitchen counters work surfaces, and grout. One hand and brush cleaner I have found that works extremely well and is eco friendly is Earth Safe Hand and Brush Cleaner. You need very, very little, it works well and won't hurt you like some solutions will.
Some scribes expressed a preference for not scrubbing stains off at all, rather wearing them as a testimony to the craft and hard day's work. I can see the logic in that. Stains can also serve as a visual aid, "See what I'm working on, it's this green and this blue and a little gold." Yet there are times when ink under the fingernails can be interpreted as dirt, so use your judgment. If you know you are going to a wedding or cocktail party later in the day, just avoid the studio all together if possible, otherwise you are just tempting fate.
Why the picture of the coleus? I found this variety at a greenhouse and the name on the tag was Inky Fingers. I couldn't leave it there, could I?
COMMENTS
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06/14/2009 * 15:42:23
I smiled at your "visual aid" reference... many is the time I've gone into school (I teach special ed) with stains on my fingers or the back of my left hand (which serves as an impromptu pallette when working with very fine brushes)and the kids get a kick out of asking what I'm working on. I do keep a box of baby wipes on hand when I work, though, for easy clean up... very helpful to avoid finger smudges on my work!
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06/14/2009 * 11:53:15
Mary -- Many dyers use ReDuRan ("special cleanser for dyestuff contamination") -- nice smell and it works great. I order through Dharma Trading, about $6 for a 3oz tube!
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06/12/2009 * 17:14:20
I swear by ShiKai 'Very Clean' Hand Soap. It can be a little hard to find, but it's great!! I use it for handwashing and everything that's hard to clean. Just a little on a fingernail brush and everything scrubs away. Gentle on hands--tough on ink and dirt.
LOVE IT!!!
Mary Lawler ( homepage )
06/15/2009 * 12:05:49
Thanks everybody for your input. That is what this is all about. I have heard of the ShiKai before but have not tried it.
ReDuRan sounds like just the thing for dye based stains. The Earth Safe cleaner is perfect for people with chemical sensitivity or allergies.
I am trying to be mindful of "if I don't want it in my river, I don't use it."