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What Is a Kneaded Eraser?

Merriam-Webster defines the kneaded eraser as “a soft pliable eraser of unvulcanized rubber used especially to remove graphite or charcoal marks from drawing paper”. There are many other types of erasers that can do the same thing. However, the kneaded eraser is especially good at removing some of the graphite (for example) and purposefully leaving traces of the graphite on the paper for artistic effects. Some artists also use a kneaded eraser as one might use clay to make a model of an object to sketch.

How to Use a Kneaded Eraser

If you'd like to know how to use a kneaded eraser to achieve some of those artistic effects, here are a few examples that can be applied to portrait drawing. Most of the time, you would use a kneaded eraser to pull out highlights. For instance, you might apply some graphite to a skin tone and smooth it out with a tortillion. Then, you use the kneaded eraser to carefully pick at the area where you want a highlight. Don't rub vigorously as you might do with a traditional eraser. Rather, almost think of it as you would "blot" a stain out of a carpet. The kneaded eraser is used in a similar fashion to pull highlights out of hair. Additionally, some artists use the kneaded eraser to carefully rub out loose strands of hair that overlap the general mass of hair on the head.

How to Clean and Care for a Kneaded Eraser

As you use your kneaded eraser, you will find that it accumulates all of the graphite or charcoal you apply to it. That might leave you wondering how to clean a kneaded eraser. Well, there's no set way to truly get it clean. However, you can give a kneaded eraser the appearance of being clean by making new, clean spots on it and using it again and again. This is achieved by doing exactly what the name implies...kneading the eraser. To do this, simply pull on the eraser so it stretches and fold it over upon itself to find a clean spot.

Brands of Kneaded Erasers

There are different brands of kneaded erasers from which you can choose. Some artists have preferences for certain brands because they notice advantages and disadvantages between the brands. Which brand is the best kneaded eraser? Some like the Sanford Design kneaded eraser because they think it can best hold its shape if molded into an edge or a point. I have heard of other artists stating a preference for the Faber-Castell kneaded eraser, claiming that it does a better job of pulling the medium off of the drawing paper. In my personal opinion, I don't notice a significant enough difference between brands to justify one being better than the other. I am currently using a <a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/more/kneaded-eraser/">Prismacolor kneaded eraser</a>. I am very satisfied with its ability to hold its shape as well as its ability to pull graphite. Ultimately, the best kneaded eraser comes down to your personal preference; that is, if there is even a best kneaded eraser at all.

Breaking It Down and Putting It Back Together

If you have ever wondered what kneaded erasers are made of, they can be broken down into a few key components. One ingredient include factice, which is a soft rubbery substance that is derived from vegetable oil. Other kneaded eraser ingredients include natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, and coloring agents.