An eraser isn't just a "tool for correcting mistakes." Depending on how you use it, it can "draw" light, texture, and patterns. Here we introduce the types of erasers you'll reach for most, along with techniques for putting them to work as drawing tools.
1. Types of Erasers
Standard Eraser
An eraser made for erasing pencil. Well suited for correcting pencil or mechanical pencil lines, rough sketches, pencil drawings, and charcoal drawings.
However, because colored pencil lead has a different composition, a standard eraser tends to smear and spread the color around rather than truly "erasing" it.
Colored Pencil Eraser
Can lighten colored pencil lines fairly cleanly. How well it erases varies by brand and color, but it's more effective than a standard eraser.
Recommended Alternatives
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Sakura Cray-Pas eraser: Cray-Pas and colored pencils have different compositions, but this eraser also works well on colored pencil.
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MUJI eraser: Not made specifically for colored pencil, but it's easy to find and erases colored pencil reasonably well too.
Stick Type (Holder Type)
A type where you push a button and the eraser feeds out like pencil lead. Comes in a variety of shapes — round, angled, thicker barrels, and more. Because it's thin, force transfers easily, making it ideal for fine corrections and "drawing in" highlights. You can load in refill erasers and use it again and again.
Electric Eraser
The strongest "erasing power" of them all, better suited to drawing with a pen-like feel than simple correction. Types with swappable thin and thick tips are handy. You can even find these at 100-yen shops, so they're easy to try out. Effective on heavily colored areas too, and great for stippling and creating fine patterns.
Kneaded Eraser
A type you tear off and knead before use. Well suited to powdery media like pencil, charcoal, and soft pastel. Rather than scraping off color all at once, dab it on to "lift" the color and adjust brightness. With colored pencil too, a dabbing motion can lighten it little by little.
2. Basic Techniques for "Drawing" with an Eraser
Adding Highlights (Circle and Heart Examples)
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Use a stick-type eraser, or the corner of a regular eraser.
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Erase a small circular motion at the upper right of a circle shape to add a highlight. Supporting the holder from underneath helps prevent it from snapping.
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For a heart, erase along the curve to emphasize a glossy sheen. Clean up the surrounding area after erasing.
Using an electric eraser on the same spot makes the white stand out more and gives a harder-looking texture. Combining manual and electric erasing creates stages of brightness for a more three-dimensional look.
How to Draw Sparkles (Light Streaks and Specks)
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Draw a straight beam of light in the background with the eraser. If freehand is tricky, use a ruler.
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Erase a circle at the center, then erase outward with a "flick stroke" motion so the edges fade out — this reads as "light" rather than a plain line.
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Scattering small specks of light around it adds a nice effect.
Tips for the Electric Eraser (Starry Skies, etc.)
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If you just tap it lightly and pull away, it tends to leave scratch-like marks.
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If you press it in firmly before lifting away, you get a clean, round point of light. Adjust the size by how long you hold it down. Rotating slightly gives a larger point of light.
"Blurring the Light" with Colored Pencil
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Layering color so it spills slightly outside an erased point of light creates a soft, glowing feel. Whether you keep it all white or make it colorful, it makes for a beautiful starry sky.
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Doing it in two stages — crisp with the electric eraser, then softened by hand — creates a more natural, realistic sparkle.
After using an eraser, rubbing off the grime on scrap paper before reusing it helps keep it white.
3. Application Examples
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A background where sparkles and flows of light are drawn with an eraser.
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A background built from straight-edged highlights using a square ruler.
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Water surface reflections done mainly with an electric eraser, combined with a white pen and white colored pencil.
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Erasers also shine for fine details like cherry blossom petals, sparkle in the eyes, or makeup patterns.
4. Summary
Beyond just "drawing" with pencils and pens, "drawing with an eraser" opens up a much wider range of expression. Match the eraser type to your goal, and combine manual with electric, erasing with layering, and you can freely control light, texture, and a sense of volume.
Please give it a try in your own work. Thank you for watching and reading — we look forward to your thoughts and requests.