Inspiring examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing

Real examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing

Let’s skip theory and get straight into the fun part: real, practical examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing. Instead of thinking of erasers as a mistake-fixer, treat them like a white pencil that appears when you lift graphite. You put down the darks first, then “draw” the lights with the eraser.

Below are several of the best examples artists use all the time. As you read, imagine your own drawings and where these tricks could fit.

Example of eraser highlights in shiny eyes and catchlights

One of the clearest examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing is in the eyes of portraits.

You start by shading the eye socket, iris, and pupil fairly dark, leaving only a faint suggestion of where the highlight will be. Then, with a precision eraser (like a mono zero or a sharpened kneaded eraser), you tap or drag out a tiny bright spot on the iris. That tiny highlight instantly makes the eye look wet and alive.

Artists often:

• Shade the iris in smooth, circular strokes.
• Darken the top of the iris (where the upper lid casts a shadow).
• Use a small eraser to lift a sharp, bright point or a slightly rectangular reflection, depending on the light source.

If you want real examples to study, look at high-resolution portrait references from reputable art departments or museum collections, such as the open-access images from the National Gallery of Art. Zoom in on the eyes in drawings and observe how the highlight is usually a small, sharply defined shape—exactly what a tiny eraser can create.

Examples include hair highlights and flyaway strands

Hair is another area where examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing really shine—literally.

Instead of drawing individual light strands from the start, many artists:

• Block in the hair as large dark shapes.
• Add midtones with softer pencils (2B–4B).
• Then pull out lighter strands with a kneaded or pencil eraser.

You can press the edge of a kneaded eraser into a thin wedge and lightly drag it along the direction of hair growth. This creates soft, natural highlights that follow the form of the head. To add sharper flyaway hairs, a firm mechanical eraser works beautifully.

This technique works on all hair types—straight, curly, coily—as long as you respect the overall volume first. Think of the eraser as a way to add just a few strategic strands that catch the light, not to draw every single hair.

Best examples: metallic objects and reflective surfaces

If you like drawing jewelry, cutlery, cars, or chrome, you’ll love this example of using erasers for highlights.

Metal surfaces are all about high contrast: very dark shadows right next to bright, sharp highlights. You can:

• Cover an area with medium to dark graphite.
• Deepen the darkest zones with a softer pencil.
• Then carve out sharp, bright reflections with a hard eraser.

Some of the best examples of eraser highlights on metal include:

• A bright edge along the rim of a spoon.
• A narrow vertical streak on a metal pole.
• Small, broken highlights on a bracelet or ring.

If you’re unsure how metal should look, check photography references from educational resources like the Smithsonian Learning Lab. Study how light bounces on metal, then mimic that pattern by lifting graphite with your eraser rather than trying to “draw” the light from scratch.

Soft examples of eraser highlights in skin and portraits

Skin highlights are subtler, but they’re still great examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing.

Instead of bright white spots, skin usually has soft, diffused highlights on:

• The bridge and tip of the nose.
• The top of the cheekbones.
• The forehead and chin.
• The edge of the lips.

You can:

• Shade the entire face with light to midtones.
• Blend gently with a tissue or blending stump.
• Then use a kneaded eraser to lift just a bit of graphite from those high points.

The trick is to tap, not rub. Tap the kneaded eraser onto the paper and lift it straight up. That keeps the highlight soft and natural. If you overdo it, you can lightly shade back over the area.

For anatomy and lighting guidance, many art students still use classic references and drawing lessons from universities. For example, Harvard’s Fine Arts Library offers access to collections where you can observe how traditional draftsmen suggested soft skin highlights with minimal erasing.

Real examples of eraser highlights in fabric, folds, and clothing

Clothing is full of folds that catch the light. Realistic fabric is another strong example of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing.

Here’s how you might approach it:

• Shade the entire garment to a light gray.
• Darken the creases and deep folds.
• Then lift graphite along the tops of folds where the fabric curves toward the light.

This works beautifully on:

• Satin or silk, where highlights are sharper and higher contrast.
• Cotton or wool, where highlights are softer and more spread out.

You can drag a kneaded eraser gently along the crest of a fold for a softer effect, or use a firm eraser edge to create a sharper highlight on shiny fabric. When you squint at a good reference photo, the brightest bands on the folds are where your eraser should go.

Atmospheric examples: mist, clouds, and water highlights

Not all highlights are tiny and sharp. Some of the most expressive examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing are big, soft areas like fog, clouds, and reflections on water.

For clouds:

• Lightly shade the sky area.
• Darken the spaces between cloud forms.
• Use a kneaded eraser to shape the puffy tops of clouds by lifting graphite in circular, irregular motions.

For water:

• Shade the surface in horizontal strokes.
• Add darker bands where the water dips or reflects dark objects.
• Use a small eraser to pull out thin horizontal streaks of light, especially where the sun or moon reflects.

These are real examples you’ll see in landscape sketchbooks and plein air studies. The eraser becomes a sculpting tool, letting you carve out the soft glow of mist or the sharp sparkle of light on ripples.

Tiny details: freckles, pores, and texture as examples of eraser use

Texture is often overlooked, but it gives drawings personality. Some subtle examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing include tiny skin textures and surface irregularities.

On a lightly shaded cheek, you can:

• Tap a kneaded eraser to lift tiny dots for freckles.
• Lightly dab to suggest pores catching light.

On a rough surface like stone or bark, you can:

• Shade the entire area.
• Press a stiff eraser into the paper to create scattered light spots and scratches.

These small touches keep a drawing from looking like a smooth plastic model. They’re not big, dramatic highlights, but they’re still valid examples of eraser-based lighting.

2024–2025 trends: modern examples of eraser highlights in sketchbooks and social media

If you scroll through drawing content in 2024–2025, you’ll notice more artists sharing before-and-after examples of their eraser work, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Common trends include:

• Time-lapse graphite portraits where the final step is eraser highlights on eyes, lips, and jewelry. The moment the eraser hits the page, the drawing suddenly pops.
• Sketchbook studies that start with toned graphite backgrounds, then use erasers to “draw” white flowers, animals, or faces out of the gray.
• Hybrid techniques where artists combine graphite with white charcoal or gel pen, but still rely on erasers to get the softest, most natural-looking highlights.

Art educators are also emphasizing value studies more, encouraging students to practice by filling a page with shaded squares and then using different erasers to create assorted highlight effects. These exercises are some of the best examples of how erasers can train your eye to see light.

If you want structured guidance on value and contrast, drawing courses and resources linked through university art programs (for instance, via MIT OpenCourseWare) often include value scales and shading exercises that pair nicely with eraser practice.

Practical tips to get cleaner eraser highlights

To make the most of all these examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing, a few practical habits help:

• Work from dark to light. Put down enough graphite first so the eraser has something to lift. Pale shading won’t give you strong highlights.
• Use the right eraser for the job. Kneaded erasers for soft, fuzzy highlights; stiff vinyl or mechanical erasers for sharp, bright ones.
• Shape your eraser. Tear or cut a vinyl eraser into a wedge, or pinch a kneaded eraser into a point. You’re basically sharpening your eraser the way you sharpen a pencil.
• Be gentle with the paper. Over-erasing can damage the surface and create shiny spots where graphite won’t stick well. Light pressure, repeated passes.
• Plan your brightest brights. Decide in advance where the strongest highlights will be. Those are the areas you protect or return to with the eraser at the end.

Think of every drawing as a test lab. Each eye highlight, metal reflection, or fabric fold you create becomes another personal example of what works—and what doesn’t—in your own style.

FAQ: examples of eraser highlight techniques

Q: Can you give a simple example of using an eraser for highlights for beginners?
Yes. Shade a basic sphere from dark to light. Then use a kneaded eraser to gently lift a small circular area near the light side. That becomes your highlight. It’s one of the clearest beginner-friendly examples of how erasing can create form.

Q: Are kneaded erasers or vinyl erasers better for highlights?
They’re good for different things. Kneaded erasers are great examples of tools for soft, gradual highlights—skin, clouds, fabric. Vinyl or mechanical erasers are better examples when you need crisp edges—jewelry, eyes, water sparkles.

Q: Do I always need to shade first before using an eraser for highlights?
Most of the best examples of eraser highlights start with shading first, because contrast makes highlights visible. You can erase on lightly shaded areas, but the effect will be subtle.

Q: Can I use erasers for highlights on toned paper?
Yes, though the effect is different. On toned paper, you often combine eraser highlights with white pencil or charcoal. The eraser gives softer transitions, while the white medium adds the brightest accents.

Q: How do I avoid overusing eraser highlights?
Limit your brightest highlights to just a few spots—the eyes, the sharpest metal edges, the strongest light on skin. If everything is bright, nothing stands out. Studying real examples in photos and classical drawings will help you see where light is strongest and where it should stay more subdued.

The more you practice these examples of using erasers for highlights in pencil drawing, the more natural they’ll feel. Start with one subject—eyes, metal, or fabric—and experiment in a sketchbook. Over time, your eraser won’t feel like a mistake-fixer anymore. It’ll feel like one of your smartest drawing tools.