Hey there, 3C enthusiasts and digital artists! Do you use an Apple Pencil for your digital art, note-taking, or document markups? It's a go-to tool for many professionals in creative fields.
Recently, a Japanese X (formerly Twitter) user shared a photo titled "Apple Pencil Graveyard" that's gone viral. With its black-and-white filter, it definitely evokes a sense of melancholy and a touch of the dramatic. Inside a small, round metal tin, tiny white components are neatly arranged – all of them, worn-out Apple Pencil tips!
The photo was taken by X user miya, who frequently shares their illustrations online. About nine months ago, miya bought an iPad and started using an Apple Pencil to draw almost every day. Fast forward to now, they've already gone through 16 nibs. Lined up perfectly, they really do look like a row of miniature headstones.
miya explained, "My nibs wear out faster than average, and replacing them isn't cheap. So, I decided to create a graveyard to remind myself not to be too wasteful."
miya typically uses a "paper-like screen protector" that has a rough, paper-like texture. Combined with their heavy pen pressure, the nibs wear down exceptionally fast. They usually replace a nib when lines become too thin or inconsistent, when the tip gets slanted, or even when the metal part starts showing through.
Of course, any artist who's dabbled in digital drawing can probably relate. Pens are consumables, after all. And for digital art, if you can't maintain precision, smooth strokes, or tilt sensitivity, it's definitely time for a replacement.
Just as pencil leads or fountain pen nibs would wear down with use in the past, the same applies to today's digital tools. miya keeps these worn-out nibs not just to avoid throwing them away, but to preserve "the traces of creation we shared."
Reflecting on the collection, miya said, "Looking at these nibs doesn't give me any particularly special feelings, but it at least confirms that I've drawn a lot more than people who don't draw." In the future, they plan to continue adding each new worn-out nib to this growing "graveyard."
Many netizens have praised this clever idea, seeing it as a reminder to appreciate one's tools and not take anything for granted. Perhaps fellow artists and hobbyists out there can also resonate with this sentiment.
Sixteen tiny nibs arranged like headstones might seem unusual, but behind it lies a story of consistent, daily drawing. From another perspective, it's not just a melancholic sight, but a tangible record of dedication and hard work.