How To Prevent Moisture From Your Fingers Lifting Off Pastel

We've just had a great question submitted to us by Keith. He's having trouble with the pastel from his picture sticking to his fingers. Here's the question:Hi Steve, Hi Colin,Advice needed please.I keep having problems getting a smooth finish on my pastel work, e.g. sky….i have been trying to do the London barge landscape, but find as I build the layers up, I find the pastel sticking to my fingers more than the paper,I have tried several ways to overcome this, washing hands, keeping paper covered so not to get moisture from fingers on to it but no matter what I try I still get the pastel lifting off the paper.Where am i going wrong?Kind RegardsKeithThanks Keith. The way to get round this is to have a spare piece of pastel paper alongside you work and fill this with the same colours that you are working with.As you find your finger perspiring and taking the pastel off your work charge your finger from the filled piece of paper. This should absorb the perspiration and 'recharge' your finger.If this still doesn’t work then I would use an ivory colour shaper instead of your finger.This is not as successful as a finger would be but would solve the problem. Generally speaking once the finger has sufficient pastel on it from then on the finger should stay dry for the duration of the process.Have your own advice? Let us know in the comments below!