Rubber gloves while doing calligraphy?

[Bianca M]

So I was on the IAMPETH forum and ran across a suggestion from a member that someone wear rubber gloves when they start off practicing calligraphy.  Yes, I know, I could have asked "why?" then and there, but I didn't want to detract from the conversation, and I like you guys so much, so here I am. 

What's the deal with the rubber gloves?

[sybillevz]

Is it to avoid using a guard sheet ? I know Moya uses cotton gloves... which are probably more comfortable !
I tried using cotton gloves but quickly got a sweaty hand, so I'm back to the guard sheet 

[AndyT]

No idea, but thank you for sending me off on a search which eventually took me to this.  There are times when ennui sets in and it's tempting to think that one has seen it all ... clearly not. 

[tintenfuchs]

Um ... EW!!!

[Bianca M]

Sybille - that crossed my mind, too, but... it seemed extreme for practice, especially considering how it might affect your grip.  But, then, maybe it's a grip thing?

Andy - HA!!!!  Quite a find!

Natascha - kind of my first reaction, too.

Well... perhaps I'll have to hop back on over to the discussion thread and ask, after all!

[jeanwilson]

There is a search function on the IAMPETH - OP Yahoo Group.
Putting in *rubber gloves* resulted in 3 hits.
Two of them are about wearing surgical rubber gloves give your hands enough grip to open stubborn bottles of ink.
The third hit was someone joking about something else.

A search for *gloves* came up with this:

Paper is like a sponge to ink.

If the paper has arabic gun on it it clogges the paper porosity and the ink bleeds - paper could not absorb the ink. The same to any kind of glue on paper.

It's like trying to write over a varnished paper.

I saw this kind of problem inversed with paper that get some humidity and them gets much more absorbent even after when they get completly dry.

If you change the paper condition you change the result! Some papers are more suitable and other less.
Sometimes even the hand natural oil change the paper absorbent producing worse result, so i ever use my hand ultra well washed and put latex gloves to scribe. The digitals showing over paper produce a worse result sometimes. Again some papers are more suitable them others.

(end of post)

so - it looks like it was just one person mentioning it was something they tried.
Maybe there is further discussion, but I think the search function is usually pretty thorough.
If you find additional discussion, please let us know.

[Bianca M]

Thanks, Jean!  The Yahoo group completely slipped my mind now that the forum is on the actual IAMPETH site - but that is definitely something to keep in mind for all sorts of inquiries!  Great thinking.

I hope to get some more insight soon and will post it here.

[Estrella]

Just me thinking out loud - but wouldn't it be somewhat difficult to "glide" or have "whole arm movement" while wearing a rubber glove? I mean, wouldn't it get caught a bit on the paper - or would it be pretty smooth? I could see the cotton gloves working, but rubber gloves? Oh, and wouldn't it make your hand sweat?! I don't think this would work for me. But maybe I'm wrong. 

No idea, but thank you for sending me off on a search which eventually took me to this.  There are times when ennui sets in and it's tempting to think that one has seen it all ... clearly not. 

Clearly not.

Sorry, but all I could think of when seeing those gloves is - dishwashing, lol.

[garyn]

Whenever I've worn examination gloves for a long period of time, my hand gets clamy/sweaty inside.
I think a better idea to protect the paper is to use a hand guard under the hand to keep the hand oils off the paper.

Cotton gloves on the other hand might be a tiny bit too thick for the fine control of the pen, making the pen feel fatter in the hand.  But then I've not seen thin ones that fit well.

[Moya]

I can't picture using a rubber glove - surely it would stick terribly to the paper!?  I do use a cotton glove in preference to a guard sheet (or sometimes in addition to a guard sheet if I'm not wearing long sleeves) - usually I cut off the thumb and first two fingers, so that my hand can glide against the paper without touching it or getting oils on it. I feel like using a rubber glove would really interfere with movement!

[AndyT]

Sorry, but all I could think of when seeing those gloves is - dishwashing, lol.

I rather think that was the point.  What the point of the point was is less clear to me, however ...

[Bianca M]

I agree on all points about the rubber gloves impeding gliding on the paper, and sweat!  I haven't heard back on the discussion thread yet (I inquired about the reason from the iampeth member who suggested it) so I have no news to report yet on this mystery, other than another member's suggestion that it was not a good idea to wear them. 

Personally, I loathe the feeling of rubber gloves on my hand, so the thought of them interfering with my contact with my pen and paper is definitely not appealing.  But, I still couldn't help be curious what the purpose, if any, was.

[artbyrim]

If i want to avoid my hand touchibng the paper (like for embossing) I just place another sheet of paper to rest my hand on and move it along. Haven't done it for calligraphy though, but should work if you want to avoid your hand touching the paper.

Never heard of rubber gloves! Only seen these before;  http://www.jetpens.com/SmudgeGuard-SG1-1-Finger-Glove-Cool-Black-Small/pd/13657
anyone used them?

[Inked botanicals]

That rubber glove thing keep me thinking. I work in a laboratory so I am pretty used to rubber gloves, but not the kind you use for dishwashing. Lab gloves are tight to the skin. Sometimes in the lab I need to write some notes, and I do not get my gloves out if it is not necessary. Never had a problem with writing that way (not caught on the paper, no slippery pen, my hands only sweat when I've been hours with them on...). But yes, they are just quick notes with a ballpen and not calligraphy, of course. Some day I will try to practice calligraphy with lab gloves, just to see how it feels.

[Bianca M]

SO!!! The answer to why it was recommended by the IAMPETH member is because of the amount of India ink that can get on the hands as a beginner.  A staining/mess issue, it seems.  This made me laugh because of how much ink I still get on my hands eleven years into this gig, although not due to splatters.  He said water based inks are not a problem/do not require the gloves.

Rim, cool find!  I am king of tempted to get one of those!  I use a piece of glassine under my hand when needed but I'm always up for trying something new.

Alba, be sure to report back