Earlier today, I painted the hands with a sealant and let them dry in the sun, as per the photo on the left.
Later, I mixed some pink paint but I overdid it with the red tint so shall have to repaint on the morrow. At least I now know that the sealant works well and the paint is not absorbed by the plaster.
I like that the hands are swollen and creepy-looking, approximation of hands, really. Perfect for groping.