When I initially started drawing, I used graphite and charcoal solely, as do most beginning painters. Everything came together for me when I found colored pencils. My drawings now had the potential for greater variety and depth. I’d won the lottery!

All of my joy rapidly faded the first time I attempted (and failed) to undo the method I had been accustomed to. Was it conceivable that colored pencil wasn’t as versatile as I had hoped? Was my artistic career ended before it ever began? Is it preferable to give up completely?

Obviously, I needed some inspiration and investigation.

I eventually mastered many erasing techniques that allowed me greater freedom and possibilities. Thank heavens I didn’t give up since colored pencils CAN be erased—and it’s not even tough!

Work with a Light Hand

The first way I propose is to apply the pencil with a gentle hand (also known as mild pressure). To do so, comfortably hold the pencil in the tripod position. Maintain a slack enough hold so the pencil can skim the paper’s surface with its own weight. Holding the pencil further down the shaft (opposite the tip) will assist you in doing this. If you use a delicate touch and avoid burnishing your paper too soon, you can remove markings if necessary.

Why it’s important: Using a light touch helps you get a lot of layers down and allows you to wipe the pigment if necessary. The pigment cannot be removed even if you press extremely hard and crush it into the paper. Are you a buffer? No worries. Burnish away, but save it for the very end when there is nothing more to do on the drawing.

Work in layers.

Layer one to two colors at a time over the regions in your drawing. You will only go on to the next color if you have completed one layer of color everywhere. Repeat the procedure of gently building up the following layer, keeping the point of your pencil sharp the entire time. Keep a test sheet of paper next to your drawing and make notes on the order in which the pencil colors were set down.

Why is this important? When you remove or erase pigment from a specific region, you must rebuild the pigment in that little area using the same procedure as the portion around it. Without comprehensive notes on the colors you used and the sequence in which you placed them, you may find yourself continuously layering color in a futile attempt to remember how you produced your initial style.

Making use of a colored pencil eraser

A rubber eraser was invented in 1770 and has since been the most used tool for dealing with an unanticipated outcome on paper. This strong eraser made of elastic material may easily remove unintentional pencil traces and, more startlingly, ink markings.

When testing, apply a delicate, circular motion with the eraser. If streaks or stains appear, use the eraser more gently and delicately. On occasion, you may need to utilize alternative erasing processes. Begin by removing the image’s outside edges to prevent ruining the entire image.

One of them is the well-known Magic Rub eraser, which can correct art mistakes. It eliminates any color effectively while leaving no streaks. Another thing you can do to make your sketching work last longer is to use high-quality paper, such as Terraskin Rock paper.

Making use of a kneaded eraser

Charles Goodyear created kneaded erasers after rubber erasers in 1839, which have several advantages. They have a little sticky, putty-like feel that makes molding and utilizing them a snap. They must be hand-shaped to serve a variety of functions without breaking or shattering. These erasers reduce rather than eliminate the color pencil effects. They work great for lightening graphite and pastel. They work well with charcoal pencils.

The action of such an eraser is markedly different from that of the original. To avoid spoiling your masterpiece, try it on another sample first. The easiest way to utilize it is to dab one color on the eraser before folding it. Repeat the method after erasing each color; otherwise, the grabbed color on the rubber would be stamped back onto the paper.

To avoid creasing the paper, use this device with a delicate touch. It can also remove any pigmented, chalky, or inky covers, not only colored pencils.

For all of these benefits, the Prismacolor kneaded eraser is the most popular choice in the art world right now, and artists highly recommend it.

Making use of an electric eraser

An electric eraser is another option for erasing colored pencils. Artists adore the Staedtler electric eraser, stating that it can remove black lines that are impossible to remove by hand. You may also use it to lift off-color areas to brighten them and create interesting effects.

Applying a little amount of solvent to the area you want to repair will loosen the colored pencil marks, allowing you to remove them with the electric eraser.

Before using an electric eraser on one of your colored pencil works, practice on many test pieces first. It’s a good idea to observe how the paper reacts to the eraser because certain papers erase better than others.

Making use of artist tape

How do you use tape to erase colored pencils? You may think this is an odd notion, yet it works. Artist tape is not as adhesive as regular tape. Using artist tape is not a common method, but it is acceptable when you have no other options since you must be careful with it.

To begin, cut a length of tape somewhat longer than the area to be erased. Stick the tape’s sticky side to the paper.

Then, gently push the tape against the paper. You may use your finger to remove a bigger part or a sharp instrument like a stylus or the pointed end of a pencil to remove tight places, highlights, lines, fur, or create textures, among other things.

Finally, carefully remove the tape. You must be cautious not to pull up paper fibers along with the color. Most tapes are gummed enough to lift color if not pushed too hard. The pigment will adhere to the tape and remove any errors.

Furthermore, the artist tape you use to remove color should be acid-free, such as Pro Art artist tape. It also works well as an edge tape for display boards. When applied to watercolor paper, this tape will not produce a bias that will alter the colors in your painting in the same way as the colored tape will.

Making use of a vinyl eraser

Vinyl erasers, often known as plastic erasers, are the most durable erasers available. These erasers are incredibly handy since they can remove almost any substance, even ink. Draughtsmen traditionally choose vinyl erasers due to their clean and thorough erasing. They are typically white and come in a variety of forms.

However, vinyl erasers may easily tear the paper if not handled carefully. Furthermore, it has the potential to stain the documents. To avoid this, pick a Factis vinyl eraser, which can be deeply clean while avoiding smudging or smearing the sheets.

The best-colored pencils to think about

If you are a novice, selecting appropriate and simple-to-use colored pencils is strongly advised. Here are the top three most popular colored pencils to consider: