After finding that all important pencil set that suits all of your needs, the next step is to make sure you have all those little extras to complete your tool kit! Erasers are one of the most important tools you need along with the pencil. It is best to have several types in your drawing box for all drawing functions.
Next up, the humble pencil sharpener! We have listed a few of our sharpeners that will save time and energy, especially when you choose the electric ones! For all your graphic needs we have listed rulers and stencils that will really help to create the perfect curve, circle or ellipse.
Which art eraser should you use?
An eraser has to do the job required, and there are many different erasers with very different functions; pencil erasers, kneadable putty erasers, block erasers, electric erasers, dust free erasers, and erasers that come in a plastic pen holder! We have listed some handy erasers and their functions to help you choose the right one for your project needs.
Art erasers are made from either synthetic rubber, synthetic soy-based gum or flexible vinyl, plastic or gum-like materials. Whichever eraser you choose, and you definitely need more than one kind, aim to test your erasers on a number of materials like, graphite (various grades), charcoal (various grades), pencil sketches under watercolour or pastel pencils. This will help you to understand their potential or limitations. Sometimes a putty rubber will lift graphite or charcoal but then a plastic eraser will finish off the job if you want the bright white of the paper to shine through. Or, you might want to carve through your charcoal or graphite dust on your paper to create some gestural figures in movement, for this you would need a good sized block eraser with some harder edges or try a larger pen holder eraser for some more direct line making. Don’t be tempted to wipe off the debri that is left on the paper after erasing, with your hand. Aim to keep a dedicated clean brush to swipe away the residue or a soft clean cloth used lightly. This will eliminate smudging the eraser's residue with carbon on into the paper, or smudging the existing graphite work and stop the oils from your hand polluting or marking the paper.
Pencil and pen grip erasers
These erasers have a focused point like a pencil, which allows you to remove thin and precise areas of your work. Good for charcoal and graphite work, these pencils sharpen like a normal pencil so you can achieve that important point like precision needed for fine strands of hair or fur details, or for taking out the graphite on the iris to create highlights on portraits. The Faber Castell eraser comes with a brush on the end for brushing away the small bits of debri that break off. Very useful and helps prevent smudging your work.
The quality of your eraser and using the correct eraser are crucial for best results. There are two different materials used to make erasers: rubber and plastic. All rubber erasers and most plastic erasers made by Faber-Castell are PVC-free. Faber-Castell PVC-Free erasers do not contain harmful phthalate plasticizer. The balanced plastic mixture guarantees soft and smear-free erasing. PERFECTION 7058 B eraser pencil for precision erasing white, hard eraser leads for ink, India ink and ballpoint pens. Comes with a brush for cleaning up eraser residue and is latex-free.
Faber Castell Eraser Pencil Perfection 7058B with Brush
Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser Holder & Refill
This useful plastic holder with an eraser in is perfect for detailed erasing. Just lengthen or shorten with the sliding mechanism. Comes with one eraser.
Kneadable erasers
Kneadable erasers are an invaluable addition to your tool kit, but you need to prepare them correctly. Simply warming them up in your hand will allow you to re-shape them so they are fit for their intended function. They can be used for reductive drawing, where you would like to reduce your graphite or charcoal marks but not obliterate them completely! Great for working with soft mediums like 7B, 8B, or 9B graphite pencils or with compressed or willow charcoal. They can also be used with soft chalk pastels.
Koh-I-Noor Putty Rubber
A mouldable putty rubber which works with pencil, pastel, chalk and charcoal. In a plastic case.
Winsor & Newton Kneaded Putty Rubber
Winsor & Newton large kneaded putty eraser/rubber can be moulded to a very fine point for stippling effects in chalk, crayon, pencil, charcoal and pastel work without smearing.
Rechargeable and battery operated erasers
These erasers will take the effort and stress from repetitive wrist movement. They make light work of erasing.
Derwent Battery Eraser
Derwent's battery powered eraser delivers precise and swift erasing at the click of a button in an easy to handle shape. Work into graphite and charcoal pieces with the eraser to create new marks, define shadow and create tonal shifts as well as removing undesirable marks and mistakes.
Derwent USB Rechargeable Eraser
No need for batteries with this rechargeable eraser - perfect for fine detailed artwork. The USB rechargeable eraser comes with a built-in 500mAh lithium-ion battery with a long lasting charge. This quick and precise eraser comes with 20 refills - 10 large 5mm erasers and 10 extra fine 2.4mm erasers.The function button is designed to push on and off when required, allowing a comfortable hold for maximum control with a non abrasive, circular motor movement.
Block erasers
Block erasers come in many shapes and sizes and are great for cleaning up messy edges and erasing large areas of work. These erasers are usually harder than the putty erasers, which is perfect for creating hard erased edges in a drawing or for erasing out that HB or H pencil mark under a graphic sketch. Some can even be dust-free similar to the Faber-Castell Art eraser. Usually block erasers are hard enough to erase pencils, graphite and charcoal but soft enough not to damage the paper underneath.
Erasing shield
An Eraser Shield is a fantastic tool for your art box. Simply lay the shield over your drawing and position the required hole or shape over the area you wish to erase.
What is the best pencil sharpener for graphite or softer pencils?
Jakar Electric Pencil Sharpener
The Jakar Electric Pencil Sharpener is heavy duty and ideal for use in the home or office. It is suitable for graphite and good quality colour pencils of up to 8mm. The Auto stop prevents over sharpening and sensors prevent the motor from overheating. Ideal for use in the home or office.
Jakar Desktop Sharpener
Pencil Sharpener, crank type desk-top pencil sharpener for 7.8 – 11.5mm diameter pencils, silver grey metal body, metal cutter, desk clamp. Individually packed in a transparent PVC box with instruction leaflet.
Jakar Three Hole Electric Pencil Sharpener
this hardworking sharpener is ideas for the classroom, use for graphite and good quality colour pencils. Accepts 6.5 to 11mm diameter pencils. It has 3 settings. Auto Stop, prevents over sharpening. Long lasting cutter (replaceable). Extra large shaving tray, rubber feet for desktop stability. Overheat protection device. Two year manufacturers warranty.
Derwent Super Point Manual Sharpener
This manual desk sharpener with helical blade can sharpen different sized pencils and has a clamp to secure to your desk. Hard wearing metal casing. Stands 13cm/5¼ inch. Suitable for pencils 7mm and 9mm
Staedtler Double Hole Tub Sharpener
For standard sized pencils up to 8.2mm with a sharpening angle of 23°. For thick pencils up to 10.2mm with a sharpening angle of 38°. Hinged cover prevents shaving from spilling. Lid with safety lock to avoid accidental opening. Colour of sharpener may vary
Staedtler Pencil Sharpener
Metal double-hole for standard 8mm and larger 10.5mm pencils.
Professional Solid Brass Sharpener
M+R Professional solid brass circular double hole sharpener. Favoured by industry professionals for it's hard wearing design and robust design. Knurled edge provides a comfortable and firm grip surface. The hardened steel blades hold a keen cutting edge for longer and provide a smoother sharper point and can be replaced once they lose their edge. It has two holes for sharpening the most common widths of pencil.
Derwent Pastel Pencil Sharpener
A sharpener designed to sharpen more fragile pencils like charcoal and pastels.
Drawing templates for that perfect ellipse, silhouette or small detail.
We have a great selection of templates that will speed up the design process. Whether you are an architect, interior designer, garden landscape designer, illustrator or artist these templates are a great way of drafting out ideas and design without thinking too much about proportion or scale as it is already worked out for you!
ARTdiscount Ellipse Drawing Template - 266 x 146mm
Excellent template to use for drafting, drawing illustrating with 38 different sized ellipse shapes clearly labelled in millimetres for accurate drawing. Marked at right angles for precise positioning, semi transparent acrylic material is compact and lightweight. Varying sizes up to 60° Ovals.
ARTdiscount Student Circle Template
Constructed with a shatter proof, transparent and flexible plastic material. Also includes a 22cm metric ruler on the top edge. This template can be used for a wide range of purposes including drafting, figure drawing, technical drawing, fabric design, and many others. Circle stencil template features circles from 1mm to 36mm diameter.
Jakar Combo Circle Template
Jakar Combo Circle Template containing 50 circles from 2mm up to 39mm in diameter. Pencil allowance 0.4445mm on all openings.
Jakar Female Human Figure Template
Jakar Female Human Figure Template. A template to enable you to draw the female human figure to scale. Scales included 1:20, 1:25, 1:75, 1:100 and 1:125. Pencil allowance .4445mm on all openings.
Jakar Landscape Template
Jakar Landscape Template. A useful template containing a selection of symbols for landscape design. Scale 1:50. Pencil allowance 0.4445mm on all openings.
Jakar Even Ellipse Template
A tinted transparent 60°set square with a graduated scale. Size: 360mm.
Jakar Male Human Figure Template
Jakar Male Human Figure Template. A template to enable you to draw the human figure to scale. Scales included 1:20, 1:25, 1:75, 1:100 and 1:125. Pencil allowance 0.4445mm on all openings.
Rulers for all types of art, design and craft.
A ruler is another essential item in your tool kit of drawing companions. You will need several different rulers for the different functions of your creative practice. If you are a quilter you will of course need an ARTdiscount or Jakar acrylic cutting ruler. For trimming paper using a scalpel you will definitely need a metal ruler to protect your fingers and we have several especially designed for cutting. We have shatterproof rulers and even rulers that magnify the details or text perfect for pattern grading. For measuring margins for mounting your work you may need a clear ruler, whilst a 2 Metre Linex wooden folding ruler would be great to measure out your wall space for that large mural you are about to start! We have compiled a list below to help you choose the rulers that are just right for you.
Linex wooden folding ruler - 2m
Folding ruler 2 metres with degree measurement with each expansion.
Jakar Aluminium Cutting Rulers - Grip Handle
This is a heavy-duty aluminium cutting ruler, accurately marked on one side in centimetres and in millimetres, with a strong aluminum and zinc alloy black handle, ergonomically designed for ease of use.
Jakar ACRYLIC Cutting Rulers
These acrylic rulers are transparent and easy to use for all those stationary needs. Especially useful for the crafters, card makers and drafting out small compositions on watercolour paper.
Jakar Wooden Rule 1 Meter Yard Stick School Office Tailors Ruler 1M 100cm 3007
Strong, Sturdy & Safe Design, accurately marked with centimetres and millimetres on one side and inches on the other. Multi Layered Laminated Wood. Hanging Hole & Metal End Caps. 100cm.
Jakar ACRYLIC Cutting Rulers
Strong Acrylic Cutting Ruler with stainless steel cutting edge, other edge bevelled. Marked in cm and mm and 5mm squares. With a hole for hanging up purposes. Supplied in a plastic wallet with a reinforced hole. Available in 30cm, 60cm, or 100cm
Jakar Lightweight Aluminium Cutting Rule
Lightweight anodised aluminium, mm/cm graduations, Stainless steel cutting edge, Rubber grip on reverse side.
The Maun 12" Safety Rule
The Maun Safety Rule has a unique M profile which keeps the fingers clear from the knife blade when cutting along. The rule is stainless steel to give a corrosion free life. With metric and imperial scales the Maun Safety Rule is ideal for hobby and craft work . Size 12".
Helix 2x Magnifying Rule 12"/30cm
Magnifying rule allowing line by line reading of text. Takes the strain out of detailed reading, 2 x magnification. Metric and imperial graduation. Single colour print.
Blending paper stumps/tortillion blenders
Derwent Paper Stumps
Perfect for blending pastel, charcoal and graphite, the paper stump makes the difficult job of blending these mediums much easier and cleaner.
Paper stumps are perfect for accurate blending. And, once the stumps get dirty and the points wear down they can be easily cleaned and re-pointed using a sandpaper block.
Derwent paper stumps can be found individually or in a handy pack of 3 sizes ranging in diameter from 5.5mm to 10.5mm. The paper stumps are made from compressed rice paper and with a point at each end. The use of rice paper ensures that the paper stumps blend more effectively and provide an even smoother finish. The points mean the stumps can be used to tackle even the smallest area of detail.
Drawing Companion Set
Don't underestimate the usefulness of this set - it will add considerably to the range of effects achievable with a mere HB pencil. Just imagine where it will take your charcoal and pastel work! This comprehensive, value-for-money pack contains two stumps, 3 tortillions, a sandpaper block, a putty eraser, an erasing shield and a chamois.
Scalpels for the ultimate pencil point!
ACM No.1 Handle with No.11 Blade & Guard
Swann Morton
Founded in Sheffield during 1932, Swann-Morton has become a world leader in the manufacture of surgical blades, scalpels and handles. It is a name respected globally for quality, precision, consistency and reliability and recognised for combining traditional blade making skills with the latest technology.
