Maximizing Your Eraser: Five Simple Tips & Techniques
Whether you’re a serious graphite artist, a casual sketcher or a student who refuses to surrender their trusty #2, you already know how valuable your eraser can be – or do you?
Erasers come in all shapes and sizes; there’s pencil-mounted, block-style and pen-style precision models available in rubber, art gum, soft vinyl and kneaded (not to mention those new-fangled battery powered ones – the jury’s still out on those). Erasers are the unsung heroes of the pencil world, but we’re about to change that by showing you just how valuable these little sidekicks can be!
Here’s five quick pencil erasing techniques and tips to help you make the most of your eraser(s):
Tip #1 – Warm It Up
Most erasers (especially ones made from natural materials) work best when warmed; a warm eraser has more tack, is more pliable and it’s less likely to cause unwanted ripping and tearing of your paper. You can take the chill off your eraser by holding it in your hand for a few minutes, or for hands-free warming, simply sit on it. Whatever you do, don’t even think of tossing it into the microwave. Seriously, don’t…..
Tip #2 – Sand It Off
Ever used an eraser to tidy up your work, only to wind up with a bigger mess because your eraser was dirty? Breathe life into your old, used erasers with a piece of medium-rough sandpaper – a few quick rubs on the soiled end of your eraser and it’ll look (and work) like new!
Tip #3 – Lift & Shake, Don’t Brush & Blow
For clean, smudge-free results, resist the urge to brush or blow off the debris left on your work after you’ve used an eraser – this can cause unwanted smudging and introduce moisture from your breath onto your work. Gently lift your paper and give it a gentle shake to clear it off – the extra effort is worth it.
Tip #4 – Erasers Aren’t Just For Mistakes
Erasers can be used to create inspired, highly-detailed works of art. One of the most common (and satisfying) techniques involves covering a piece of drawing paper completely using a graphite pencil or charcoal crayon. With an eraser (preferably a white vinyl or kneaded rubber one) you can ‘draw’ your image – the great thing about this technique is that it’s very forgiving, since you can always re-fill any areas where you’ve over-erased. Experiment with different types of erasers, use finger-blending and vary the amount of pressure you apply.
Tip #5 – Slice It Up
Ever struggle to find the perfect-sized eraser, or one with a sharp, pointy tip? Create your own customized eraser with a simple handheld cutter – just be sure to steady your eraser on a solid surface before you start slicing and dicing.
Want to expand your eraser collection? Check out our eraser-topped pencils, art erasers and classic pink pearl erasers here.
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