Erasers: Art Supplies Essentials

When it comes to art supplies, having the right eraser for the job is as important as the proper pencil. One eraser will not serve all purposes. Do you work with pencil in one hand, eraser clenched in the other? Not so hasty! Do not erase away all of your lines and marks. Lines track the progression of an art piece and guides the viewer into your methodology. Know when and where to leave some of your fascinating marks and lines in. For all the other lines you do not want to reveal to the world----Quick. Erase.

Battery Operated Eraser

A handy tool for giving great precision and control back to artists is the battery operated eraser. Look for a quiet one with a battery charger and one that feels comfortable and balanced in your hand.

Blu Tack Reusable Adhesive

Designed originally as an alternative to using pins and tape to hang posters and such. Artists have since nabbed the product for its ability to mold into precise points to clean up pencil and pastel work.

Electric Eraser

For the busy artist. A swift, efficient way to erase. The tip rotates to clean away large areas quickly or to carve out delicate details. For an even finer point, sharpen the eraser tip on sandpaper. When shopping for an electric eraser, seek out a lightweight, quiet one, contoured to fit comfortably in your hand.

Grip Eraser

Ergonomic, triangular shaped, easy to hold eraser. Handles both large areas and small details nicely.

Gum Eraser

Soft block shaped eraser usually yellowy beige. Removes large areas quickly thus not a good for precision work. Cracks and crumbles apart easily. Moreover the gum eraser leaves lots of eraser crumbles behind. Keep a broad brush at hand to sweep away all of the loose eraser junk this eraser will dump on your sketch, the floor, and your lap.

Household Cleaner Eraser

Questions of this products virtues comes up again and again. I will simply include here, one manufacturer’s product information. You determine if this is your choice for use on your fine works of art: “.......Discover all the possibilities of the Magic Eraser. Try it on soap scum, marks on walls, inside microwaves or even on car wheels. Make over your ride by using it to shine up your car's hubcaps and the interior console and dashboard. Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove scuff marks on your patio furniture. Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser as part of The Cure for a Messy Medicine Cabinet......’

Kneaded [or Kneadable] Eraser

A pliable non abrasive eraser that will not damage your paper surface. Cleanly picks up graphite, charcoal and pastel. All residue is taken up inside of the eraser itself thus it leaves behind no crumbs. Usually grey or white when new, when dirty, pull and knead the darkened parts into the lighter [cleaner] inner eraser. Mold into any shape to get into small areas. Used as a subtractive drawing tool, lifts and lightens and creates lines and shapes. Since the kneaded eraser does not wear away like others, the most likely cause you will have to replace it, is when it gets lost. Don’t wait for that to happen, buy a spare. New ones are now available in sophisticated hues of red, blue, yellow.

Pink Eraser

As you already guessed, this is a pink. Colored erasers can leave traces of color on the white of your paper. So use a colored eraser only on rough beginning sketches. Never on final paper.

Pencil Top Eraser

Most artist quality pencils will not have an eraser on one end. For that option, purchase soft wedge-shaped eraser caps.

Plastic Eraser

Erases drawings on delicate tracing paper, polyester-based drafting film and acetate cleanly without smudging. The plastic eraser is usually white and wrapped in a snug cardboard or plastic. Keep the sleeve on it, as it will protect the eraser from getting dirty.

Putty Rubber

Another name for the kneadable eraser used for cleaning pencil, pastel and charcoal drawings.

Rubber Eraser- White

Super-soft eraser picks up its own eraser crumbs. Good for use on fine watercolor paper without roughing or abrading. When the squared edge becomes too rounded to get clean edges blunt, trim up with a craft knife.

Rubber Eraser- Black

Finally, an eraser made especially for charcoal and graphite. Same eraser as the above.

Shield

The eraser shield is a flat metal card with punched out shapes and openings. Laid over your penciled in work, and then erased over, it will lift out intricate areas.

Soap Eraser

A school kids favorite erases away pencil lines.

Stick Eraser

Pen shape eraser ideal for subtractive drawing. This stiff eraser can be trimmed into shape with a craft knife to form into points, wedges, or any shape that you need to erase away, highlight, or create detail.

Triangular Wedged Eraser

Triangular shape is a plus, as you have 3 corners and 3 wedged sides for use.

Twist Eraser

Eraser housed in an easy to use pen shape. A twist of the top feeds out the product.
 

-Cynthia Padilla

Cynthia Padilla-Come along as we learn and improve drawing skills through direct observation.  Explore the traditional dry media applications of graphite pencil, colored pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, and pastels.  I am a national instructor of drawing and sketching through the traditions of Plein Air Field Sketching, the Botanical Arts and Naturalist Illustration.