October 14, 2008
Issue #3: Erasers
The Inkblot is your cartooning information resource. From art supplies to drawing lessons to tips from the pros, you'll learn what it takes to be a cartoonist!
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Contents:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Kneaded Erasers
- 3. Art Gum Erasers
- 4. White Vinyl Erasers
- 5. Pink Pearl Erasers
- 6. Mars Plastic Erasers
- 7. A Final Word
Introduction
Hey fellow Cartoonists, welcome back to another exciting issue of the amazingly fantastic ezine, The Inkblot! In this issue, we’re going to discuss another of the cartoonists most important drawing supplies:
The Eraser!
That’s right. The eraser, put simply, is the thing you use to erase the pencil lines from your cartoon after inking. Pretty basic, right? But just like there are many different kinds of pencils and pens, there are also many different kinds of erasers. As a cartoonist, it will be up to you to decide which ones work best for you.
To help you with this, let’s go over some of the basic kinds!
First off, forget the eraser at the end of your number two pencil. Those little things don’t always erase well—often smudging the pencil lines onto the paper rather than erasing them—and the are pretty dinky, made for erasing tiny spots. If you’re like most cartoonists, you’ll need a good, sturdy eraser for a lot of erasing.
The Kneaded Eraser
This one is a favorite of many different types of artists, including cartoonists, illustrators, and arctitects. It’s made of plastic and comes as a square, but it can be easily kneaded into almost any shape. It’s great for erasing lines made by even the softest pencils, and the best thing about it is, it leaves no eraser crumbs! It also erases cleanly, never smudging. This remains my favorite of all erasers, and it’s the type I use the most.
The Art Gum Eraser
This eraser is easy to spot because it comes as a big brown block or cube. Made of rubber, it’s great for erasing pencil lines, as well as smudges. It’s different from the kneaded eraser, though, because it leaves a LOT of eraser crumbs. It’s made to do that, however; the eraser breaks up into powder as you use it, which then absorbs the pencil lines and dirt on your paper. I’ve used this eraser a lot in the past, and not only for erasing. It’s really good for cleaning pencil lines and smudges from the drawing board, too, and can even take up rubber cement. You’ll have to vacuum the rug after each use, however!
White Vinyl Eraser
This eraser is becoming more and more popular, especially with mechanical pencils. You can find it practically anywhere pencils are sold, and is very inexpensive. Sold in block form, it’s the same type of eraser that’s found on the end of your typical mechanical pencil. It a good basic eraser for pencil lines, but it will occasionally smudge. It leaves eraser crumbs, but not as many as the art gum eraser. This eraser is best for erasing light pencil lines. It doesn’t do well with heavier pencils.
Pink Pearl Eraser
This eraser has been around for a long time, and can also be found everywhere. It’s pink, generally beveled at both ends, and is a good, basic eraser. I used this one all the time in elementary school. It’s good at erasing basic pencil lines, although it does sometimes smudge. It also can “dig into” the paper, depending on the type you’re using. It leaves more eraser crumbs than the white vinyl.
Mars Plastic Eraser
This is very similar to the white vinyl eraser, but I wanted to point it out, because I think it actually does a better job. I’ve used it for years, and is great for removing almost any kind of pencil line without harming the paper. It also never smudges, unlike many white vinyls or pink pearls. It’s white, soft, made of plastic (of course), and comes in the shape of a brick. You can sometimes find it in supermarkets, next to the pencils, but most often it’s found in art supply and drafting supply stores.
A Final Word on Erasers
There are many other types of erasers out there, but these are the basic ones, and the best for Cartooning. As with all art supplies, get out there and buy as many different ones as you can…then experiment! This is what I did, and it’s the best way for finding out what works best for you. Not everyone uses the same type of eraser, and even the professionals have their favorites. In the end, the only thing that matters is that you use what works best for you.
Until next time,
Happy Drawing!
Michael Richards
www.coolcartooning.com