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Which Eraser Do You Need For Drawing?
Hey Psst, can you lend me your eraser, just for two seconds?
Who has hasn’t said this sentence at school or in a meeting, ‘Chuck us that eraser!’
Useful or unnecessary, the eraser is nevertheless the tool of all graphic circumstances. By rubbing it, you warm it up. By erasing, you consume it to help you start again.
I had to share an article about this trusted tool. The eraser deserves it.
As a long-standing friend from my school kit, it now rests in my artist studio drawer.
Little eraser, what is your secret?
Story of Erasers
To erase graphite from paper or a primed surface, before artists used to use soft wax, bread crumbs soaked in milk, but also pumice stone or a knife blade to erase ink.
Later, in the 18th century, the discovery of a vegetable material such as latex (extracted from the rubber tree) led to the first production of black workshop erasers.
The problem was that this sticky, highly putrescible material degraded rapidly in the open air. Natural latex was therefore replaced by synthetic rubber, which was itself replaced by plastic in the 20th century. There’s no stopping progress in the eraser family!
Beware Too Much Erasing, to Avoid Ruining The Paper
In order to avoid constant scrubbing which tires the paper, I recommend using a sheet of blotting paper under your hand.
Graphite lead can be deposited on the fingers with perspiration or skin oil. Covering your work as you go along can help you avoid unsightly marks and smudges.
What is an Eraser for?
- correcting a mistake
- cleaning a surface
- drawing shapes and lines
- enhancing whites
These products are currently available at GreatArt Online or in the art supply shop in London Shoreditch..
Pebble or Soap Eraser
The traditional one. The great friend of schoolchildren, often round, white, made of natural or synthetic rubber, this eraser is composed of three distinct substances: sulphur rubber, vegetable oil and abrasive powder. The softer the rubber, the faster it wears out and the better it is used.
- The rubber eraser is perfect for dry techniques (H or HB pencils).
- It is not recommended for greasy techniques such as 4B, 6B, 8B pencils and volatile techniques such as charcoal, chalk, or sanguine (which are more easily erased with the breadcrumb eraser). Under the effect of greasy or loose pigments, the eraser slips and smears instantly instead of lightening the paper.
- See traditional eraser
GOOD TO KNOW: To erase “on the edge”, simply slice the eraser with a cutter.
Architect’s Eraser
Often in rectangular shape and wrapped with a paper or plastic sleeve, this eraser is widely used for technical drawings. It is very popular with architects, engineers, mathematicians, designers and artists because it leaves little residue on the paper.
Eraser Pencil
Often presented in a shape of pencil, this type of eraser is perfect for working on details, highlights in a drawing or precise erasures. The pencil eraser can be sharpened with a cutter to refine its tip.
GOOD TO KNOW: I invite you to use PVC-free erasers!
Electric Eraser
With the size of a large marker, the electric eraser has a battery to rotate or vibrate the eraser inside the handle. This tool allows you to erase fine lines quickly and accurately. Despite its noise and lack of discretion, the electric eraser remains the favourite tool of architects, engineers, mangakas, stylists and model makers.
- See electric eraser
GOOD TO KNOW: Even if the electric eraser is not always easy to handle, it is still very practical for reopening the white of a paper with precision as well as for creating shiny effects in an eye, or revealing the shine of a wet lip.
Kneadable Eraser
Commonly known as charcoal eraser, this eraser comes in a small block of greyish paste that is extremely malleable like modelling clay. Unlike a non-synthetic kneadable eraser which leave a residue on the paper, synthetic erasers do not lose material after use.
To restore its freshness and suppleness, kneadable erasers can be kneaded and twisted indefinitely. To erase charcoal or sanguine, the kneadable eraser is dabbed onto the paper. Its slightly sticky surface will loosen the graphite from the paper and restore its whiteness.
I recommend that you keep your kneadable erasers away from heat to prevent them from hardening, crumbling and becoming unusable.
- See the kneadable eraser
GOOD TO KNOW: To erase pastel, it is best to use a hard brush and a small lens cleaning bulb to blow the pastel powder out of the drawing. A straw can be an alternative but beware of saliva and spit.
Dual Eraser
The famous two-tone pink and blue eraser. This eraser has nothing going for it. It is hard, too abrasive, messy and quickly degrades the paper. It is recommended for erasing dry ink. So avoid it for your graphite drawings!
- See the dual eraser
Fancy Eraser
This plastic eraser is more of a decorative accessory than a real studio eraser. It appeals more to children and schoolchildren than to professionals. It is certainly very pretty, colourful and of various shapes, but it does not erase anything, slips too much, and makes everything dirty!
How to Clean an Eraser?
To clean an eraser, you can rub it on :
- watercolour cloth paper
- fine-grained sandpaper (like a nail file)
- cotton cloth (such as a tea towel or tightly stretched jeans)
- a wooden board
GOOD TO KNOW: To clean an eraser without wearing it out, you can wash it with washing-up liquid and then dry it well with a piece of paper towel.
Content provided by Amylee Paris
The passion of Amylee Paris, painter, consultant and author is to share her paintings between galleries, art collectors and her community. Beyond her pictorial skills and her several eBooks available online, Amylee is also recognized as one of the most influential francophone artist-entrepreneurs. She helps beginners or professional artists to optimize their artistic activity.
You can visit her colourful portfolio,follow her on Facebook and Instagram, or find all Amylee’s posts published in GreatArt online Magazineby clicking here!
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