How to Erase Colored Pencil

Co-authored by Veronica Winters

Even if you are an experienced artist, you might make mistakes or change your mind about something you’ve drawn with colored pencil. While colored pencil is difficult to erase or remove using something like a normal pencil eraser, colored pencil can be removed from drawings using one of several simple methods. A specialized color pencil eraser is the best and most straight-forward solution, but you have other options as well.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a Kneaded Eraser

1
Buy a kneaded eraser. Kneaded erasers are made from a slightly sticky, putty-like substance that makes them very easy to shape and use.
- You can find kneaded erasers in most art supply shops.
- Kneaded erasers are best for when you need to lighten, rather than fully erase, colored pencil.
- You can approximate the effect of a kneaded eraser using wall putty, which is a very similar material.
2
Create the shape you need. Because kneaded erasers are very malleable, you can and should make the shape that is easiest for you to handle and use.
- For large areas, you can flatten and stretch a kneaded eraser out over the area you want to erase.
- For small areas, shape the eraser into a pencil-like point.
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3
Test the eraser on a small area. It is best to test an erasing method before starting to erase large portions. Erasing can cause streaking. By testing first, you can ensure that you will not ruin your picture.
- Rub gently in a small circle to test. If you notice streaking, rub more gently. If you notice streaking, consider trying another method.
- Try to choose a peripheral spot to test the eraser. If it does smear or streak, you do not want it to ruin the central part of your image.
4
Rub the eraser on the page to pick up pigment. You can rub the page rather hard with a kneaded eraser, because they are soft and unlikely to tear the page.
- After your rub some of the pigment off the page, pick up the eraser and fold the eraser over itself. This will help to prevent the pigment from rubbing back off on the page.
- You may need to repeat this process several times to remove all or most of the colored pencil. Rub, fold, rub, fold. Continue until you are happy with the results.
- Still, be careful. Although you are unlikely to tear the page, you may crease it.^{[1]
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5
Clean the kneaded eraser. Unlike other types of erasers, kneaded erasers need to be cleaned after using them.
- To clean the eraser stretch it thin and fold it back over. Repeat several times if necessary. ^{[2]
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- You may need to rub the kneaded eraser on another surface to get pigment out.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using a Colored Pencil Eraser

1
Purchase a colored pencil eraser. A colored pencil eraser can be bought at most stores: dollar stores, an arts and crafts store, etc.
- You should not need to pay more than about five dollars for a colored pencil eraser.
- A colored pencil eraser should work on all types and brands of colored pencil.
2
Test the eraser on a small area. It is best to test an erasing method before starting to erase large portions. Erasing can cause streaking. By testing first, you can ensure that you will not ruin your picture.
- Rub gently in a small circle to test. If you notice streaking, rub more gently. If you notice streaking, consider trying another method.
- Try to choose a peripheral spot to test the eraser. If it does smear or streak, you do not want it to ruin the central part of your image.
3
Simply use the colored pencil eraser as you would use a standard eraser. Rub gently; colored-in portions of paper are more fragile than paper you've simply written on.
- Be careful, colored pencil erasers are somewhat more firm than normal erasers. They have a rough, coarse feel to them and can tear paper.
- Be patient and continue to rub gently, checking your progress every few seconds. It may take some time to fully erase the colored pencil. If you get impatient and try to rub more vigorously to speed up the process, you are likely to rip the paper.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using a Vinyl Eraser

1
Buy a vinyl eraser. Unlike kneaded erasers, which you might be able to fashion out of material you have around, you will likely have to buy a vinyl eraser.
- You can buy vinyl erasers in many different shapes. Try to find the one that is best for your needs.
2
Buy an “eraser.” Erasers are the type of eraser that comes in pencil form.
- Erasils can be held and used like a pencil. They are vinyl and should be used carefully, like any vinyl eraser. ^{[4]
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3
Test the eraser on a small area. It is best to test an erasing method before starting to erase large portions. Erasing can cause streaking. By testing first, you can ensure that you will not ruin your picture.
- Rub gently in a small circle to test. If you notice streaking, rub more gently. If you notice streaking, consider trying another method.
4
Erase the colored pencil by rubbing very gently. Be very careful. Vinyl erasers are the hardest, stiffest type of eraser. It is very easy to accidentally tear through paper when using them.^{[5]
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- The edge of a vinyl eraser is the most effective part. Use the edge of the eraser for the best results.
- If you need to completely remove all of the colored pencil, erase gently until the colored pencil is totally removed.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Tape

1
Erase the area with a normal pencil eraser. Be very gentle and do not apply too much pressure because it alters the paper's surface. Erase very lightly. The goal here is to just slightly bring up the pigment from the page, in order to help the tape pull it up more easily.
- This helps prepare the area for the tape. You do not need to try to fully erase the colored pencil with the normal pencil eraser.
2
Cut off a small strip of tape. Even if you need to erase a larger area, you are better off using several small pieces of tape.
- You can use masking tape or clear tape.
3
Test the tape on a small area. It is best to test an erasing method before starting to erase large portions. Erasing with tape can cause damage to the paper. By testing first, you can ensure you will not ruin your picture.
- Try to choose a peripheral spot to test the tape. If it does start to tear the paper, you do not want it to ruin the central part of your image.
4
Gently put the strip of tape on the paper, and rub it gently. Do not rub too hard, it may damage the paper when you peel it off.
5
Use a pen to write on the tape over the part you want to erase most thoroughly. By using a fine pointed stylus, like a pen, to put pressure on the tape you will encourage the colored pencil to stick to the adhesive.^{[6]
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- Make sure you do not press too hard and rip through the tape.
- This works better with masking tape than with clear tape.
6
Peel the tape off the paper. There should be some of the pigment sticking on the tape. Be careful when peeling the tape back from the paper. This is the step that has the greatest chance of ripping or tearing the paper.
- Each time you repeat this step, you increase the chance the paper will tear.
7
Gently erase of the paper again with a regular pencil eraser. If there is still pigment left that you want to remove, repeat the entire process.
- This can help to erase small, remaining amounts of pigment that are left on the page.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the easiest way to remove colored pencils?

Veronica Winters
Figurative Artist
Veronica Winters is a Figurative Artist who owns an online art gallery and studio in Naples, Florida. With over 20 years of experience, Veronica specializes in surreal figurative oil paintings and colored pencil drawings. In 2022, she won the Award for Distinction at the 30th Annual Colored Pencil Society of America International Exhibition. Veronica is also a published author of two art books: How to Color Like an Artist and The Colored Pencil Manual. She received her BFA in Studio Art at Oklahoma State University and her MFA in Painting at Pennsylvania State University. Veronica also studied classical drawing at the Grand Central Academy of Art and the Art Students League of New York.

Veronica Winters

Figurative Artist

Expert Answer

Well, first of all, you need to know that you can't erase colored pencils completely, especially when the line or shading are very strong. However, a great tool for erasing is the Tombow mono eraser—it gets deep into the surface and is so small that it allows for a very precise erasing in some delicate areas.
Question

How do you erase pencil without damaging paper?

Veronica Winters
Figurative Artist
Veronica Winters is a Figurative Artist who owns an online art gallery and studio in Naples, Florida. With over 20 years of experience, Veronica specializes in surreal figurative oil paintings and colored pencil drawings. In 2022, she won the Award for Distinction at the 30th Annual Colored Pencil Society of America International Exhibition. Veronica is also a published author of two art books: How to Color Like an Artist and The Colored Pencil Manual. She received her BFA in Studio Art at Oklahoma State University and her MFA in Painting at Pennsylvania State University. Veronica also studied classical drawing at the Grand Central Academy of Art and the Art Students League of New York.

Veronica Winters

Figurative Artist

Expert Answer

Overall, avoid erasing colored pencil with lots of pressure because it alters the paper's surface. If your paper is low quality and very thin, it can screw up the appearance of your drawing.
Question

How can I erase colored pencil if I have no eraser?

Elia Guthrie

Community Answer

You should try the tape and/or the rubber band method. It works pretty well when you don't have an eraser.