Two kneaded erasers. A newer eraser is on the left, and an older eraser on the right. The older eraser is darker due to the graphite_and_charcoal_dust_that_has_become_incorporated_into_the_eraser.html" ;"title="charcoal.html" ;"title="graphite and graphite_and_charcoal_dust_that_has_become_incorporated_into_the_eraser">charcoal.html"_;"title="graphite_and_charcoal">graphite_and_charcoal_dust_that_has_become_incorporated_into_the_eraser A_kneaded_eraser,_also_commonly_known_as_a_putty_rubber,_is_a_pliable_ graphite_and_charcoal_dust_that_has_become_incorporated_into_the_eraser">charcoal.html"_;"title="graphite_and_charcoal">graphite_and_charcoal_dust_that_has_become_incorporated_into_the_eraser A_kneaded_eraser,_also_commonly_known_as_a_putty_rubber,_is_a_pliable_Eraser">erasing_tool_used_by_artists._It_is_usually_made_of_a_grey_or_white_Vulcanization.html" ;"title="Eraser.html" ;"title="charcoal">graphite and charcoal dust that has become incorporated into the eraser">charcoal.html" ;"title="graphite and charcoal">graphite and charcoal dust that has become incorporated into the eraser A kneaded eraser, also commonly known as a putty rubber, is a pliable Eraser">erasing tool used by artists. It is usually made of a grey or white Vulcanization">unvulcanized rubber (though it can be found in many different colors, such as green, blue, Shades of pink#Hot pink, hot pink, yellow, and so forth) resembling putty or chewing gum. It functions by Absorption (chemistry), absorbing and "picking up" graphite and

charcoal Charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. In the traditional version of this pyrolysis process, cal ...

particles, in addition to carbon, colored pencil, or pastel marks. It neither wears nor leaves residue ("eraser crumbs"), thereby lasting much longer than other erasers. left, Kneaded eraser is used to remove thin details Kneaded erasers have great plasticity and can be stretched, compressed, split, and molded for precision erasing, pruning

lines Line most often refers to: * Line (geometry), object with zero thickness and curvature that stretches to infinity * Telephone line, a single-user circuit on a telephone communication system Line, lines, The Line, or LINE may also refer to: Arts ...

, cleaning edges, creating highlights through

subtractive drawing Subtractive drawing is a technique in which the drawing surface is covered with graphite or charcoal marks and then erased to make the image. This technique is often used to add texture, establish tonal shapes, or create the appearance of reflected ...

, or performing other detail work. They can completely remove light marks, but are ill-suited to fully erasing dark areas. They may also smear or stick if too warm. Besides their precision, kneaded erasers are preferred by artists for their long life and ease of cleaning. One simply kneads their eraser and the medium will fade into its mass. Although kneaded erasers do not wear away like other erasers, they can become saturated and unable to absorb any more graphite or charcoal. In this case, the eraser will leave marks on the paper instead of removing them. The saturating material can be removed by rinsing and kneading. They can also be useful as a material for impromptu sculptures, similar to

plasticine Plasticine is a putty-like modelling material made from calcium salts, petroleum jelly and aliphatic acids. Though originally a brand name for the British version of the product, it is now applied generically in English as a product categor ...

, for sketching or

fun Fun is defined by the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' as "Light-hearted pleasure, enjoyment, or amusement; boisterous joviality or merrymaking; entertainment". Etymology and usage The word ''fun'' is associated with sports, entertaining medi ...

References

{{art-stub Visual arts materials Drawing