Kneaded erasers (A.K.A. kneadable erasers, putty erasers) might seem strange at first, but once you know how to use them, they quickly become a supply you can’t live without.
Kneaded erasers are soft, putty-like erasers with a variety of uses. They are perfect for working with graphite and charcoal, allowing artists to erase marks, lighten areas, fine-tune details, and more. They’re versatile tools that are a must-have for any artist seeking precise control in their work.
Here are all the in and outs when in comes to kneaded erasers:
How are kneaded erasers different from regular erasers?
A kneaded eraser is a soft eraser made of a mix of rubber and a clay-like material. Unlike traditional erasers, it doesn’t leave behind eraser residue. Its unique composition allows it to be shaped and molded, making it ideal for various erasing techniques.
How do you erase with kneaded erasers?
You can mold the eraser to whatever shape you like. If you need to eraser a tiny spot, you can mold it to a fine point using your fingers. You can also roll in into a ball to eraser larger areas.
How do you clean kneaded erasers?
Whenever you erase with a kneaded eraser, the graphite or charcoal sticks to it. If you want to be sure it erases properly, squish it and re-mold it every few times you erase with it. This makes sure you’re using a cleaner part of it the erase (and aren’t erasing with the dirty part).
It’s also a good idea to completely mix the kneaded eraser once there are a lot of marks stuck to it. This is actually one of my favorite things to do with it.
What else can they do?
Kneaded erasers are great for lightening areas. One thing I like to do is roll it into a cylinderical shape, then roll it over my initial sketch. This lightens the sketch in seconds, without fully removing it!
If you want to lighten specific parts of your drawing, you can mold it to whatever shape you need, the gently dab the part you want to erase. Just remember that the more dabs with the same part of the eraser, the less graphite/charcoal it will remove. So make sure you rearrange it every few dabs!
Using kneaded erasers for highlights and textures
Kneaded erasers are great for highlights, as they can be molded to very small shapes.
Dabbing the eraser onto the page and twisting it can also create unique and interesting textures!
Using kneaded erasers for masking
Kneaded erasers can actually be used for masking areas too! Mold it to whatever shape you want to protect, lay it over the area, then you can sketch away without having to worry about going “outside the lines”. Once finished, all you need to do is lift the kneaded eraser.
Conclusion
The kneaded eraser is such a useful, versatile tool. Being able to lighten, soften, mask, and correct makes it an essential companion in your artistic journey.
Now that you know how to use it, you can unlock the full potential of the kneaded eraser and bring your artwork to the next level.
Have fun!
Oh, and if you ever want to make your own kneaded eraser, I wrote an article about it here!
