My Go-To Eraser for Artists - VISTA-ARTISTA Delivers

My Go-To Eraser for Artists - VISTA-ARTISTA Delivers

Hello there!

I'm a huge fan of drawing, and I do it a lot using all sorts of materials. And art erasers are one of those essentials that you never have too many of. I've got a bunch of them in all shapes and sizes, from regular erasers to specialty ones like this metal case art eraser I'm reviewing today.

The VISTA-ARTISTA metal case art eraser is a game-changer for artists, architects, designers, and office workers who need to remove top layers from paper, drawings, sketches, and other smooth surfaces.

Product Details

Brand: VISTA-ARTISTA.Country of origin: China.Price: around 130 rubles on average.Buy it at any art supply store or online marketplaces. I picked mine up at the Leonardo store in Penza (Moscow Street, 83, Passage Mall, 2nd floor) for 189 rubles. The same price is listed on their website, although I bought it in November. And I also got a second one as a gift, but I haven't used it yet.Packaging and Design

The eraser was packed in a plastic bag inside the metal case. The packaging isn't the prettiest, but it does a great job of protecting the case from scratches and damage.

The back of the plastic bag has a sticker with a detailed description. If you're interested, you can zoom in on the photo and read what it says. But honestly, it's not that exciting, so I'm not going to focus on it.

The main packaging is a metal case. It's roughly the same size and shape as those candy boxes you know and love. The design is sleek and minimalist, with a black color scheme and the brand's logo. Art eraser cases are an important thing - they're a bit harder to store than regular erasers, but metal cases are more durable and long-lasting than plastic ones.

Pros of the Metal Case

The metal case protects the eraser from drying out and getting dirty, keeping it in great condition.The compact design and stylish look make it easy to store in a bag or on your workspace.The case has a hinge that allows it to open easily, which is really convenient.The inside of the case isn't painted, which is a nice touch.You can reuse the case for other erasers. Not just for any old erasers, but for VISTA-ARTISTA ones with different product codes.About the Eraser

The eraser itself was initially wrapped in plastic, which helps protect the new product.

Visually, it looks like a grey square of plasticine. I haven't seen any other colors from this brand, although I personally prefer colored erasers, as they're easier to keep clean, but that's a topic for another time.

As for softness and texture, all the erasers are pretty much the same. They leave impressions when you press on them. It feels similar to plasticine, maybe a bit denser and stiffer.

It's easy to tear off small pieces for use. The eraser breaks off cleanly, without leaving a long string behind. It's really similar to plasticine, except it's not as porous. Although I've seen some people cut them into neat squares. I don't see the point, as it's just going to get squished anyway.

Using the Eraser

There's a simple guide on the Leonardo website that I found:

Take the eraser out of the box and gently squeeze it in your hand.Carefully press it onto the dirty area - no need to scrub!After use, put it back in the box to preserve its properties.The most common and suitable way to use it is to blot the eraser onto the drawing. This way, any excess pencil marks get absorbed by the eraser. However, if the eraser is relatively new and clean, you can also 'draw' with it. But don't scrub, as the rubber will stick to the paper and ruin it.

After use, you can gently squeeze the eraser to remove any remaining graphite from the surface. If you don't, a dirty eraser will smudge new sheets and leave marks. Like what happened here:

How It Cleans

What really matters with erasers is how well they tackle messes.

Delicate cleaning without scratching - just press the eraser to the surface, and it'll pick up graphite, charcoal, or dust particles without damaging the paper.

So, I decided to test it out first, and then I'd use the new toy in my sketchbooks. I tested it on cartridges of varying hardness.

I heated up the eraser with different cartridges. I smudged the second column with my finger to create a dirty effect.

I repeated the process a few times in the same spot with the same amount of pressure. The clean strip after using the eraser remained intact. So, the eraser easily removes charcoal cartridges of any hardness.

Then, I rolled out a piece of the eraser into a thin rope and dragged it across the same spot. The lines from the cartridge didn't smudge, but a lot of the used graphite got absorbed. The piece was pretty dirty afterward, but that's a good sign - the eraser doesn't stick to the paper, but it picks up dust beautifully.

And then there's just 'tapping' the eraser onto the paper. Kind of like blotting. And that's the most reliable method.

The thing is, in many drawing methods on paper, there's a simple trick - first, you make an outline or a sketch, and then you use color. Often, after filling in the colors, the pencil lines show through, ruining the concept and the overall look. But without the initial sketch, it's hard to create a beautiful drawing. So, we use this eraser, not a regular one for erasing mistakes, but a klyachka, which absorbs everything unwanted and leaves only a faint mark on the paper that can be traced over or covered with color.

For example, like with this 6B pencil.

I love sketching out the fine details with this VISTA-ARTISTA eraser. My eraser from the same brand helps me get the lines just right.

After that, I can go over the lines with a kneaded eraser again if needed. The eraser dries quickly, and the kneaded eraser doesn't damage it. This leaves me with a clean, crisp sketch that I can cover with paint or ink.

Even the tiniest details come out smoothly.

After applying ink, the pencil marks are completely invisible.

At this stage, I can also use the kneaded eraser. If I just blot, I can pick up any loose crumbs, paper fibers, and other debris without damaging the colors. The eraser might get a bit dirty, but the drawing itself remains unaffected. I just need to wait for it to dry completely.

And here's the finished planetarium:

As for my favorite genre, portraits will always be my go-to. And there, I really can't do without a kneaded eraser because with faces, you can't afford to make mistakes, and pencil lines often need to be redone multiple times. But if I just use a regular eraser, the paper gets worn out, especially with watercolor paper.

And whether I'm drawing with markers, pens, or paints, a kneaded eraser is a must-have. I've already written about a small sketchbook that I've been using, and this is roughly what my pages look like:

The pencil marks sometimes leave behind faint lines, but only the ones that were intended.

Even in the lightest areas, you can't see the gray smudges. Of course, there are mistakes, but the kneaded eraser usually saves the day.

The picture below shows the same scene. As I walk through the artwork, the graphite dirt from the pencil starts to smudge on the character's face and that's where my trusty little dog comes in handy. With a rubber eraser, I could easily ruin the entire drawing, but my dog can gently remove the top layer of dirt without damaging the artwork.

Colored pencils are much harder to erase, so this method actually works. The graphite dust settles on top of the colored pencils, which is why even a slight touch from my dog can save the situation.

Another huge advantage of using a dog instead of a rubber eraser is that I can draw, outline fine details with a liner, and then see the mistakes and correct them quickly. My dog won't damage dried markers and liners, unlike a regular eraser. This means I can work on complex, multi-layered artworks.

And the best part? Black and white drawings with charcoal or pencils are the ones that get dirty the most, even for experienced artists. I've had cases where I've spent hours working on a piece, only to accidentally smudge it with a careless touch. I once knew an artist who spent months working on a piece, only to smudge it with a fixative and not notice until later. The smudge became a part of the artwork and the artist's wife even said it added a certain charm to the piece.

I've been practicing monochromes a lot and even tried my hand at hyperrealism. One of my recent attempts is this portrait:

I ended up showing off the artwork created with ink. It was super fun, easy, and my eraser really came in handy:

In many spots, the eraser really saved me even after adding color. And the final result is just gorgeous.

I didn't even need to use white paint to lighten up the areas I wanted. I'd just not cover the spot and then wipe it clean with my eraser. And voila, perfect white!

The cosmos piece really took me by surprise. I started by sketching the circles with a pencil, and my eraser helped out. But towards the end, I realized that even under the colored pencil, the pencil mark wouldn't be visible anyway. Still, I wanted to show off the artwork :D

I think it turned out pretty nice)

My Final Thoughts on the VISTA-ARTISTA Eraser

I genuinely believe that there's no such thing as a bad eraser. They all work, but what gets me is that most manufacturers make their erasers gray. Like, it's as if they're trying to keep the product looking pristine for as long as possible. But I know I've already used it, and that's what matters. It's a misconception that can even cause problems. I might think the eraser is still gray, touch the paper, and ruin the artwork. And those pesky stains from a dirty eraser are a real pain to fix.

But that's not going to take away from my overall experience. This is a eraser that comes in a metal box, and it gets the job done. Its quality is undeniable, even if the color isn't my cup of tea.

easy to storecomfortable texture and softnessdoesn't stick to my fingersgreat at picking up graphitedoesn't stick to paperdoesn't damage my liners and markersaffordablePutting aside the color, I'd give it a solid 5. And I'd recommend it to even the most experienced artists. This eraser is truly worth it.

Thanks for making it this far, folks!