Adult coloring is meant to be peaceful—when you don’t make mistakes. Unfortunately, Alexander Pope was right on the mark when he said “To err is human”, so the best we can do is prepare for these mistakes. In this case, you need to know how to erase what you color.
The best erasers for adult coloring are kneaded electric and synthetic erasers. Each of these has its specific use, and the most complete erasure is done when using all three.
Also, keep in mind that Pope followed this up with “to forgive divine”. Don’t give yourself such a hard time when you make a mistake. Take a deep breath, erase it, and move on. Hopefully, these tips and guidelines help keep things tranquil.
Why are colored pencils so hard to erase?
You might think that because they are colored pencils they should be one of the more erasable mediums, but this isn’t the case. Colored pencils are composed of pigment and either a wax or oil-based binder. The binder just does just what you would expect it to: fix the pigment to the page. Graphite pencils act by sitting on top of the paper. This is why they are prone to smudging when they are not set, but it’s also what makes them so easy to erase.
The pigment of a colored pencil will also stain the page, which is why I will always suggest you start with your lighter colors. The idea isn’t that they are more erasable, but lighter colors are easier to cover up with darker colors if you need to. Covering up isn’t always the best choice, but luckily there are specialized erasers and methods just for colored pencils.
Types of Colored Pencil Erasers
Unfortunately, you won’t get much done if you grab a random eraser and start aggressively rubbing away at your mistakes. This is exactly how you ruin your coloring. Without the proper eraser and technique, you are more likely to smudge your work and potentially make it harder to erase the marks. You are, after all, pressing the pigment further into the page.
Check out these different types of recommended erasers, and then see how they all work together for a more flawless approach.
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- Kneaded erasers, like the Faber-Castel Kneaded Eraser, can be molded to any size and shape you need. This is especially useful when you are working with more detailed work because they can tackle both large and small surface areas. They are also fantastic because they limit pigment transfer when used correctly.
- Electric erasers are a great tool for areas that may require more pressure (and fantastic if your hand loathes the idea of all the cramping that erasing may entail). Electric erasers like the Sakura Cordless Electric Eraser work especially well if you apply a small amount of solvent to loosen the pigment first. Because this is an art power tool, you will want to practice on a scrap sheet of paper first.
- Eraser pencils are another great niche tool. Something like a Faber-Castel Eraser Pencil can be sharpened, which makes it great for working with detailing or erasing small mistakes in narrow nooks and crannies of your art.
- Synthetic Erasers are a tentative mention for me. They are well known for their ability to erase practically anything, but they are also abrasive enough to easily tear through your paper. Keywords? “Take Care.” Tombow MONO Sand Erasers are specifically stated to be colored pencil erasers.
How to help your future self out
The key is to not need to erase any of your colorings, but there are a few habits you can pick up in case the erasing becomes necessary.
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- Use a light hand. You don’t want to press the pigment into the paper, especially when you are barely getting started. Keep the tip of the pencil sharp and allow its weight to put color on the paper. The less pressure you use, the easier it will be to erase.
- Work in layers. You should already plan on doing this, but build your colors up using only one or two colors at a time over the page. You should also keep track of the order you lay down your colors; if you over-erase and need to build back up you can reference this to make sure the color looks the same.
- Apply a bit of solvent if you need it. A light layer can help break up the binder and release the pigment, but this is the last resort. If you are already an employee the other tricks you shouldn’t need to use this, but it’s a good trick for areas that have already been burnished.
- Practice erasing on a scratch sheet. You will need to use different erasers and different methods depending on a lot of things, but most importantly you want to make sure you’re comfortable erasing the pencils you’re using on the paper you are using. If it’s your first time using either, or your first time using the combination, do a test run with your erasers.
The idea is to make things easier in case you need to erase, but you can’t always hang out in this land of reservation. At some point, you will need to move on to burnishing, so make sure you erase any mistakes before you get there.
Check out more articles on erasers HERE.
How to erase colored pencil
Your gut might tell you to simply erase, but I’m here to tell your gut it’s wrong. Erasing colored pencils is a skill to be mastered, one that I think you should practice. Even the most well-known artists make mistakes and trust me when I tell you that it is preferable to erase them instead of starting completely over.
(You could always accept the mistake and turn it into its masterpiece, but that’s a topic for another day.)
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to tackle erasing when coloring.
- Start with a kneaded eraser. Don’t even rub at this point. You want to use the eraser to pick up whatever pigment is already loose, so tap it onto the area you intend to erase. You should move back and forth between your work and cleaning the eraser, either by kneading it or rubbing pigment off onto a scrap sheet of paper. When the eraser is no longer picking up pigment move on to the next step.
- Apply tape to the area you are erasing and gently press it into the age using the tip of a pencil. When you lift it the pigment should come up as well. (You already know what I’m going to say: practice using different types of tape.)
- Avoid scrubbing unless it is necessary. Use a synthetic eraser to remove any last bits of pigment from the page (rubber erasers are prone to smudge your work). This is also where your electric eraser comes in handy.
Are erasable colored pencils worth it?
Erasable colored pencils do have their place in this world, but I wouldn’t consider them to be on par with quality resources. If you search for these odds your first results will be Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils, and that makes sense. Erasable colored pencils are a fantastic tool for beginner and school-aged artists. There are higher-tier sets like Prismacolor Col-Erase and Staedtler Erasable Colored Pencils if you expect a certain level of quality from your tools.
I would say that erasable colored pencils are great for sketching or your beginning layers. Typically they have a harder lead, which can also make them great for details or lines, but their erasability comes at a price. Erasable colored pencils are not lightfast or blendable, two things that are pretty much necessary when producing art. They also aren’t guaranteed to erase, so set your expectations low. They do tend to be a cheaper buy, so try them out yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are wax or oil-based colored pencils easier to erase?
Because wax-based colored pencils have a softer binder they are easier to erase. Erasable colored pencils are pretty much always wax-based for this reason.
Is there any specific eraser to avoid with colored pencils?
Cheaper synthetic rubber erasers are generally a bad choice, especially with pigments. They tend to smudge your work, and the waste they produce is also prone to transferring pigment. Keep in mind that erasers can also dry out, so an older eraser won’t work as well as a new one.
What should I do if erasing doesn’t work?
First? Breathe. Relax your body, and know that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Look at it as an opportunity for your imagination to run wild. When I’m stuck in a situation like this it goes one of two ways. I either color over the spot with a darker color, or I’ll add a funky pattern to distract from my mistake. Mistakes are painful but try to see them in more of a “growing pain” way.
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