Kudos to Sharon Fisher on her wonderful article in Laserfiche, Will Computers Make Pens and Pencils Obsolete? I readily admit to my passionate affair with my fountain pens, Crayolas and pencils to the point at which I will have a graphite duel (“choose your No.2”) with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to defend the pencil’s existence against threats by computers, smartphones, tablets and the removal of cursive writing from “Common Core” instruction in our schools. The single reason that the printing industry was profitable in 2015 was the demand for adult coloring books. Follow-the-dots books are about to further insure print publishing’s bottom line.

My relationship with the No.2 pencil goes from loyalty to sublime aesthetic passion anytime that Russian artist Salavat Fidai’s miniature carvings into the tips of graphite pencils are on exhibit. They are unique art forms and never fail to elicit “ooh’s” and “ah’s” from observers.

So, as far as No.2 pencils becoming obsolete, it will take more than technology to move me away from my graphitic creative wanderings.