I know its a silly thing to come on here and review, but I LOVE this pencil. When its completely used up I'll be really bummed out...until I get a new one! It stays sharp longer & doesnt smear like my other graphite pencils, which can be very important when drawing. The biggest thing that affects creative flow imo is to have to stop whatever your making to wash a brush, get a new tool, or sharpen a pencil. I didnt realize how spoiled I was with this one until I used a different one that kept breaking the lead and smearing graphite all over my drawing. Of all the expensive art tools available in the world, it all comes down to the very first thing I usually reach for to begin a painting or drawing or drafting a quilt...a pencil. Who could have thought that of the things I use most from ArtSnacks are a pencil & eraser.