Most beginners treat an eraser like a panic button, for quick fixes only. That’s a mistake.
More experienced artists use erasers as drawing tools. They ‘lift’ the graphite to create edges and textures that would be very difficult to acheive by shading alone.
This is subtractive drawing, and it’s a game-changer for beginners.
Different erasers do different jobs. Kneaded erasers are great for broad strokes, Blu-Tack is perfect for adjusting tone, Eraser pens for sharp white lines, and battery erasers for insane detail and highlights.
Use them with care and your drawings will come alive. This simple change can lift an average drawing into something special.
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Why Draw With an Eraser?
You are not just erasing errors. You are drawing texture and highlights that add depth and movement to your work.
They are invaluable as drawing aids. I use erasers at every stage of my work, often simply to readjust mistaken tonal values.
It’s an ongoing process. I have my favorite erasers to hand and each one has a purpose.
Drawing ‘in’, and lifting ‘out’ is counter-intuitive for most learners but it is at the heart of realistic drawing. It’s much easier to erase a light area, or highlight, than it is to draw around the space.
Imagine drawing a white hair over a dark background with just a pencil. Not only would it take forever, it would be almost impossible to draw accurately.
The same applies to broader effects. It’s much easier to draw a head of hair as a dark mass and draw the highlight with an eraser. No need to draw individual hairs. The look turns the drawing into a painterly style.
Let’s go over my 4 favorite erasers.
Stephen Bauman is a classically trained artist and has an amazing technique. He uses erasers throughout. Watch him draw
My Favorite Erasers
Kneaded eraser
This is my working tool. I dab or brush it over the paper to raise gentle highlights and break up tight shading so the surface looks more atmospheric. I use it to tease out highlights on on objects and to soften or interrupt cross hatching so it has movement.
I drew the ‘out-of-focus grass by dashing the forground with a putty eraser
On backgrounds, I sometimes shade with a softer pencil and erase with a putty eraser. It doesn’t erase to white paper, instead it leaves a grainy stain that reads like a grey textured wash.
I also use it when I think my drawing lacks charachter. I will break up the harder lines and edges for a ‘lost and found’ technique. It makes the drawing look spontaneous even when it’s planned with precision. It’s a great contrivence.
Blu Tack
Blu Tack is tackier, so the lift is cleaner. I roll or dab it to create random, organic textures. On rocks, a light roll across a shaded block produces broken, natural patterns that you can then refine by redrawing the darks. It is fast, repeatable, and easy to correct. An easy hack.
I created the rock texture using a piece of Blu-Tack
It’s also great for micro-adjustments. A feather light brush of Blu Tack can smooth over small blemishes in a flat dark tone.
It’s very difficult to ‘rub’ the paper with Blu-Tack. It’s a dabbing tool. When it gets dirty, knead it like a putty eraser.
Here’s a pro tip: A new piece of Blu-Tack will lift about 90% of the graphite off the page. That’s fine when you want to remove that much, but not if you require something more subtle. If you wish to remove less, it helps if you use a ‘dirty’ piece instead.
Eraser Pen
For sharp control, I use a pen eraser like the Tombow Mono Zero. I sharpen the tip with a craft knife and use the edge to draw white lines. It’s as precise as you need it. A blunt tip will help with texture, the sharp tip with highlights.
I used an eraser pen to draw the fur texture
It’s a wonderful tool for quickly eraI drew the ‘out-of-focus grass by dashing the forground with a putty erasersing those awkward tiny areas. That said it’s not great at removing all the graphite over darker areas, it leaves a grey tone, not white paper. Its no good for dots and sparkles.
Battery Eraser
I keep the best till last. This is the surgical tool I use for ultimate control.
The key is sharpening the tip like a pencil-like point. I do this by spinning the eraser nib over very fine sandpaper (wet and dry), and doing so repeatably as the point is lost.
A maintained point allows you to draw insane details that are almost impossible using other methods.
I used a battery eraser to draw the whiskers and droplets
It cuts white whiskers out of black backgrounds, instantly adds shine to eyes, and sparkles to water. It removes graphite almost perfectly, the paper is 99% white again.
Before I discovered the joys of this simple tool, if I lost the shine in an eye, I could never fully regain it; with a battery eraser you can.
It is the easiest way to get hair thin whites and dots without wrecking the paper. Keep plenty of spare refills because the tip wears out quickly.
Tips for Using Erasers
Kneaded Erasers
Not all kneaded erasers are the same. Some are hard, some are soft. I prefer the softer ones because they are easier to mould into fine points and edges.
They also change with the weather. A hard eraser will soften if the weather is warm.
Erasing Technique
Always erase in one direction while holding the paper firmly behind your erasing hand. This prevents the paper from buckling or creasing.
Eraser Pens
Keep the nib clean. A dirty tip will leave a grey smear that is sometimes difficult to remove. I simply wipe the end on my clothes to keep it white and fresh.
Electric Erasers
Different brands of electric erasers perform differently. Some spin at different speeds, some are adjustable, and some use different tips. Some are mains supply and others use batteries.
I use the Jakar battery eraser pen. It’s inexpensive, small enough to fit in the hand, and the rubber tip sharpens well.
Blu-Tack
Blu-Tack is not a substitute for a kneaded eraser. It does not rub well across the paper.
What it does do better is lift. A light dab with Blu-Tack will pick up more graphite than a kneaded eraser, which makes it a useful aid alongside the others.
Drawing With Erasers: Final Thoughts
This post is short and sweet, but hey, how long can you talk about erasers?
That doesn’t detract from the importance of the lesson. Use erasers as drawing tools and change your mindset.
Each type of eraser has its strengths, and you will use them to suit your own style.
I’m a traditional realist and I sometimes take detail to the extreme. I also draw on small scale, meaning a battery eraser is a Godsend for me. It would be far less important if I drew on a bigger scale.
They cost pennies so go out and buy your kit. Drawing is the cheapest artform out there and there is no reason why you shouldn’t buy everything you need.
If you like the way I draw and want to know what I use, This is my basic kit
If you enjoyed this, you’ll find these posts useful:
- Best Drawing Pencils For Beginners
- Best Easel For Drawing and Painting: How to Choose
- Best Erasers for Drawing: The 9 Eraser Types for Artists
- Best Mechanical Drawing Pencils For Artists
- Best Pastel Pencils For Beginners: 7 Top Brands Review
- Are Drawing Tablets Worth it? Pros and Cons Guide
- What is The Best Paper for Graphite Pencil Drawing?
- What is the Best Type of Pencil to Use With Watercolor
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