A lot of beginner artists or parents buying school supplies eventually come across a set of colored pencils with erasers attached to the end. The idea sounds practical—you get color and correction in one tool. But if you're someone like me, who draws from observation and focuses on expressive sketching based on light, form, and shadow, the reality can be a bit more complicated.
I went to school at CalArts to study traditional 2D character animation. Most of my drawing these days is observational. Whether I'm drawing a bird perched on a branch or light falling across a hillside, I start with big, loose shapes and work toward detail. That kind of drawing has a rhythm to it, and honestly, stopping to erase can break the flow.
But there are moments where erasable colored pencils can be helpful—and plenty where they can trip you up. I’ll break down the pros and cons as honestly as I can, based on real-life use.
Colored Pencils with Erasers: What to Expect
The first time I used colored pencils with erasers, I thought they might be a game-changer. The promise of being able to fix mistakes while working in color seemed ideal.
But once I actually started layering and building form with them, I noticed a few things right away:
The color payoff was weaker. The leads felt harder and drier. They were more waxy than oily, which meant less pigment transferred to the paper. That makes them easier to erase—but also makes the colors feel faint or dull compared to higher-end colored pencils.
The erasing wasn’t very clean either. I expected something close to graphite erasing, but what I got instead were ghost lines and paper that felt a bit roughed up after.
Still, they have their place. Here’s a quick overview of the most useful insights I’ve learned from trying these pencils in real-life sketching sessions.
Key Points
- Most colored pencils with erasers are low on pigment and high on wax, which makes them easier to erase—but much harder to blend or layer.
- They can work okay for early layout sketches or color blocking when you plan to ink or paint over them.
- If you're used to burnishing or layering color heavily, you'll likely get better results with higher-quality pencils and a good separate eraser.
When Erasable Colored Pencils Might Be Useful
If you're doing casual sketching, planning out compositions, or working in a classroom setting where mistakes need quick fixes, these pencils can help.
I use them occasionally when I’m roughing in a loose composition that I plan to ink later. Especially for travel sketching or field journaling, when I want to avoid smudges from graphite under ink, colored pencils with erasers can be convenient.
They can also be useful if you're brand new to drawing and want a little more freedom to change your mind as you build confidence. There's a mental hurdle that comes with putting down marks you can't undo. Having a small safety net can help you push through that.
That said, I recommend using them more for gesture sketching, mapping out big shadow shapes, or color-coding elements of a drawing rather than detailed rendering.
Some people enjoy using the Ticonderoga erasable colored pencils, which were designed more for writing and classrooms, but they can still be incorporated into a creative workflow—especially for early stages.
Why Most Artists Don’t Use Them Long-Term
In my experience, the more expressive and observational your drawing style gets, the more you'll want to switch to pencils with stronger pigment and smoother blending.
When you start layering colors to get subtle color transitions, soft shadows, or rich texture, the waxy, hard-core pencils just don't hold up.
You can feel the difference when you try to blend. They resist build-up and often scratch the paper more than they lay down smooth color.
They're great at looking tidy and erasable, but not great at letting you push the medium.
When I'm sketching directly from life, the energy comes from the imperfections—and I don't want to erase that. I want pencils that let me move quickly, make adjustments on the fly, and layer color without it turning into a waxy mess.
If you're curious about better long-term options, I've written about the best colored pencils for artists and reviewed sets like the Faber-Castell colored pencils that give you more pigment control and blending range.
Alternatives I Recommend Instead
If you’re trying to keep things affordable but want better results, I’d recommend starting with a decent set of traditional colored pencils and a separate soft eraser.
You can erase a surprising amount even with regular colored pencils, especially if you use a kneaded eraser and don't press too hard in the early stages. This gives you the flexibility to explore your sketch without fully committing to every mark.
If you're not sure how to get started with colored pencils, I've broken it down in my guide on how to use colored pencils. That includes tips on pressure control, layering, and what kind of paper to use.
Also, don’t underestimate the importance of using a good pencil sharpener. A bad sharpener can ruin even the best pencils. If you want my take on this, check out my article on the best pencil sharpener for colored pencils.
You might also consider exploring other types of pencils, like watercolor colored pencils, which can give you that same flexibility to sketch loosely and make adjustments—but with more creative range.
My Take as an Observational Artist
When I draw, I’m not trying to build a perfect illustration. I’m observing a moment—a gesture, a shadow, a shape—and trying to get that down before it moves or the light shifts.
I usually draw with looser strokes, building forms from shadow shapes or abstract contours. The last thing I want is a pencil that fights me or forces me to press harder than I want to.
Colored pencils with erasers tend to get in the way of that kind of drawing. They’re decent for outlining or casual color sketches, but not something I reach for when I want depth, subtle color mixing, or rich shadow work.
If you’re looking for more on getting started, my page on using colored pencils for beginners goes into how to think about observation and building from shapes rather than outlines or formulas.
Also worth checking out:
- How to color with colored pencils without white spots
- Techniques for coloring with colored pencils
- Best paper for colored pencils
- Colored pencil drawings for beginners
- Colored pencils and watercolor vs colored pencils and markers
Once you start seeing your sketchbook as a place to experiment and explore, you might find that imperfections are part of what makes your drawings feel alive. You don’t always need to erase them.
Final Thoughts
So, are colored pencils with erasers worth buying?
If you're just getting started, or if you're a teacher buying supplies for students, maybe. They're okay for basic sketching, layout, or casual coloring.
But for expressive, observational drawing where you're building form with light and shape, you're better off using quality pencils and embracing a bit of messiness in the process. Mistakes aren't always bad—they're part of the process.
Here's the main collection for all my colored pencil tips and articles if you want to dive deeper: Colored Pencils