Working from Dark to Light with a Serrated Eraser

[New Masters Academy]

In this video lesson, world-famous artist and instructor Glenn Vilppu provides a unique drawing approach. First a dark tone is laid upon the paper and then the initial block-in is laid down in black pencil. Next the light tones are built up using a serrated eraser, which you can make yourself. This approach has similarities to sculpture and creates a three-dimensional and beautiful drawing.

Materials

• CarbOthello Pencil – Black
• Chamois
• Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser
• Sanding Block
• Drawing Paper

[Matthew Haverly]

What kind of charcoal was used for the tone background?

[Joshua Jacobo]

It is charcoal dust accumulated on Glenn’s sanding pad from sanding down charcoal pencils but you can also buy charcoal powder.

[Sandra Dahlmann]

I used the same rubber and sketchbook paper, charcoal dust from a charcoal pencil, but I cannot erase the charcoal. The rubber does not have the same effect as in the video. What did I do wrong?

[Daniel Daigle]

Hi Sandra, its hard to say without testing it out with your materials, but I would recommend trying out different materials. Art is all about experimentation.
With that said, my hunch is that it might be your eraser. I’ve had some eraser that wouldn’t work well for this technique. The eraser really has to cut through the medium without getting loaded with graphite or charcoal.

[Author]

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