Using white pencil on portrait drawings

Hey guys, I was curious if any of you use a white pencil for your highlights in hair or wherever when doing a portrait drawing? Or do you just use an eraser? I have never been able to get the real fine detailed "white" lines I have seen in other drawings. What do you guys do?

I never use a white pencil. Usually you only see white pencil used if the drawing is done on coloured paper, or if the entire drawing is done in coloured pencil. Then it is quite effective. There are several different types of eraser that are excellent at producing white highlights:

- kneaded erasers (look like putty)
- mechanical erasers (like a mechanical pencil, but with an eraser core... can be sharpened)
- electric erasers (small motor vibrates the eraser, good for fine details)

Hope that helps.

I currently use kneaded erasers. I have no experience with mechanical or electric ones though. I might have to check those out.

I was just curious if anyone did it, assuming that one would be able to get more detailed over a dark area...

My only fear would be that it would look like the line was sitting on top of everything else. I guess I will just have to try it out.

[duey]

i have often wondered the same thing! I understand the notion behind white pencil on white paper not showing up...but what about white pencil on a layer of dark graphite?