My Favorite Art Supply: the kneaded eraser
Design Kneaded Rubber Eraser (my favorite art supply), marker in 5×7 sketchbook, Carolyn A Pappas, 2008
The note reads: “I was five years old when I got my first kneaded eraser. I remember sitting in the back seat of the car on the way to my first art lesson, squeezing and squishing it while it was still in its package. It’s been good luck for me ever since.”
I have always kept my kneaded eraser with me over the years. Nowadays I keep it in a ziplock bag so little bits of dust and lint don’t get stuck in it when I carry it in my purse. My first art teacher always told me that I was to draw with my right hand and play with the eraser with my left hand. I don’t know if anyone else out there does something similar but that has always been my habit. When I was recovering from my hand condition that left me largely unable to draw for a year, I tested myself by squeezing my eraser and imagining the day that I would be using as it was intended. In fact when I finally got back into drawing, I was so out of practice that I used it quite frequently!
The benefits of this type of eraser is that lasts for a long time. After dirtying part of the eraser, all you have to do is squish up a bit so as to reveal a clean surface. It is gentle with the tooth of the paper, allowing for repeated erasings in the same spot and there are not as many eraser bits as with other types of erasers. Also, you can mold the eraser into different shapes to allow you to erase in tight spaces. It can be used to lift out highlights from graphite or charcoal and it’s easy to get soft edges by going over the paper very lightly with the eraser. Some art instructors insist on not letting their students use erasers because it makes them want to erase every mark they put on the paper. That is probably a good practice at least once in awhile for training purposes but I do love my eraser and would keep it around even if I were only playing with it.
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You did a great job! I’m not sure why but I don’t like knead erasers probably because I get dog hairs and all kinds of stuff stuck in mine. But your idea about keeping it in a ziplock is great, I’ll have to try that.
I agree, this tool is a necessity and I love them! I also have memories (from college) of using them in a sort of tactile “art theraphy” mode when I was stressed – making little animals and objects.
When I first started a year ago, I did not like this eraser at all, but now it is all I use. It is great for all the reasons you mentioned.
Your drawing is wonderful!!
I love all erasers. I have one in particular, not really an eraser. Along with the kneaded eraser and the solid white ones it is tremendous. I have a new one just about to be opened. Drawing time.
Strange, I never had really positive teacher comments – except when I went back to school. I wish He had been more agressive in His praise to me. Those words still haunt me. You are very lucky and have a lucky eraser.
Love the drawing.
Sherrie Roberts
One of my favorites, too! I keep one in a miniature mint tin, plus a smaller one in a plastic case an SD card came in (fits in my purse art bag).
You did great with this! Nice plastic wrap!
Great drawing! I like the kneaded eraser for erasing, but my son uses it as manipulative whenever he can get his hands on it.
Nice sketch, Carolyn!
I haven’t been able to find one of the proper grey putty erasers anywhere locally (just the white ones, which are nowhere near as pleasurable in one’s hand) so was thrilled to stumble upon a shop selling the Maped ones while I was in Greece.
I don’t consciously hold it while drawing, but now you mention it, I think I do tend to keep it in my hand after I have used it, giving it a little squish now and then.