...by my calculations... twelve.  You can get twelve 18x24 drawings from a single Sharpie.  Now, it is by no means used up.  I could probably put the lid on, forget this marker in some place where forgotten markers go... and maybe I will.  Maybe it has some marks left to make.  But in my mind I keep hearing a crit from many years back...a fellow student had some drawings up on 'the wall''  (ECU art folks, I know you feel me on this)...anyways, the drawings were pretty good...but the marker was running out.  And it was hard to really appreciate the drawings due to this defect.  My professor put it simply...'why didn't you just get another marker?'  Wow.  What a simple solution.  So in my mind I am thinking, if it is worth putting on paper, which it feels like it is... might as well give the marker a rest and find a fresh one. 

As for the fate of this marker...it may live to draw another day.  Think I will take a rest for a few hours, twelve trees feels pretty good.  I may put them together in a time-release style slide show to share, I see that some shapes are constant, patterns are coming and going...I even had a figurative element pop up.  I wonder where that came from, heehee...

So twelve for now.  I hope for fifteen tomorrow and then just keep drawing til I run out of paper.  It is a pretty simple plan, really.  What isn't so simple...trying to figure out what to do with all my trees...paint?  collage?  Those are thoughts for another day.  Certainly not today.  Today is for taking a moment of silence for this beloved marker.  Thank you marker, you helped me a great deal and I hope to work with you again on a future drawing.  (moment of silence...pause....)