Need for Knead: Essential Erasers

Mistakes happen in art, but luckily a rubber icon has been around for centuries to save an artists' battle with graphite. While people generally associate these erasing heros with the pink pencil topper or the rectangular block, a unique type of eraser has existed just as long, and can mold to an artists' specific needs unlike the others: the kneaded eraser. 

While I haven't been using a kneaded eraser for too long, the modability can be a game changer for artists. With the ability to roll your eraser across a sketch and lighten it, or create a fine point to erase microscopic details, the kneaded eraser is capable of serious skill.

Looking at Kneaded Eraser Brands

With a multitude of brands, types, and colors of kneaded erasers, I have yet to find the quintessential one as my go-to. I've tried the Artist Loft's Kneaded Eraser, but found the material to be pretty unmalleable and a tad sticky, which isn't ideal for erasing on paper. Also, after a few uses, the old graphite the eraser picked up smudged and became too hard to use (even after a kneaded eraser bath). 

At average price points of under $5.00 per eraser, I would love to invest in a higher-quality one to help erase my sketches easier. I plan to try Faber-Castell's or Prismacolor's in the future and I hope they satisfy my kneaded eraser ideals. For now, I'm just a chaser for a good kneaded eraser.